Two units of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) are testing an upgrade to the spider munition system.
The munition is used to defend perimeters and support ambushes and obstacles.
Soldiers with the 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion and 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team are employing the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system along with testers of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), based on Fort Hood, are working together in this project.
They are hoping to collect data to inform senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable and survivable Spider will be during real-world operations.
Benjamin Borys, assistant Spider test officer with USAOTC’s Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate (MS2TD) said that “Spider is not technically a mine, but a 'not victim-activated' munition system.”
When the testing is completed the Spider Increment 1A network munition system will have 16 days of straight experience with defensive and offensive force-on-force engagements.
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