UZIEL Fighting System: Police & Military CQC/H2H FEBRUARY 2014 | Page 6

5
Technical Description
Condensed Timeline of Key Points:
In 2003 a common TTP for insurgents involved setting up IEDs occurred during the night. This could be
accomplished with a small group as to avoid detection from CF patrols. August, 2003 Al Zarqawi uses a VBIED in
Baghdad against the UN Headquarters. 7 His group is called Al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (TWJ). The US began deploying
Military Predator drones (UAV) equipped with night vision in 2004 with a simple premise of identifying and
destroying the IEDs before they can be used. 8
October 2004: Zarqawi renames TWJ to AQI and swears allegiance to OBL.
2004 the Iraqi cities of Baghdad, Fallujah, Ramadi and Tikrit became known as the “Sunni Triangle” in
acknowledgement to the large Sunni populace. A report coauthored by the National Ground Intelligence Center
(NGIC) found that the extremist groups had changed their TTPs and concealed IEDs from 0900-1200 assuming the
false identities of road crews working on highway construction. The majority of attacks (70%) were now planned
during the day by terrorist groups.
Radio Controlled IEDs (RC) enabled the terrorists to stay out of the targeted area and improve the
distances from the devices could be activated. Cordless phones, wireless doorbells and car alarms (fobs)
revolutionized the effectiveness of these bombs, requiring an immediate solution from CFs. US funding for IED
research rose from 30 million (2002) to 85 in 2004. 9
The US DOD began producing equipment that had a measureable impact in IED detection and
disarmament:
i.
A new apparatus called the Neutralizing Improvised Explosive Devices with Radio Frequency
(NIRF) operates by way of a high frequency electromagnetic pulse (short range), that affects the
circuits of an IED causing them to either short circuit or detonate the charge.
ii.
Humvee vehicles began to be retrofitted with microwave technology which the Pentagon had
named “PING” and began sweeping areas for weapon caches and IEDs using electromagnetic
waves that are able to pass through structures.
iii.
Minute amounts of explosive material could be diagnosed by the sensors in the Laser-Induced
Breakdown Spectroscopy system (LIBS), which has an effective range of 30 meters.
iv.
Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) bomb disposal machinery like the “TALON” and the
“PackBot” use long mechanical arms to manipulate IEDs and offer the operator the ability to
probe the device through remote control rather than risking the welfare of personnel through direct
contact.
July 2005 In the Iraqi town of Musayyib, a suicide bomber kills himself next to a petroleum truck which
engulfs a crowded market of local residents in flames. 10 Over 100 civilians are murdered as a result. By October of
the same year US troops are modifying their own vehicles (Humvees, LMTVs) adding extra armor plating (welded
to doors), using pieces of scrap metal and bullet proof insert made from Kevlar vests to improve vehicle safety.
November 2005 AQI kills 60 civilians in an IED attack on 3 different Amman hotels. 11 AQI begin using complex
and coordinated IED TTPs.
7

Cockburn,Patrick.(June 9,2006)Al-Zarqawi: A life drenched in blood.
Independent.co.uk;http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/alzarqawi-a-life-drenched-in-blood-481636.html,accessed 30th
January 2014
8
Etzioni,AmitaiPatrick.(April,2013)The Great Drone Debate.
Icps.gwu.edu;http://icps.gwu.edu/files/2013/03/Etzioni_DroneDebate.pdf,
accessed 29th January 2014
9
Belasco,Amy.(March 29.2011)The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since
9/11.Fas.org;https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf,
accessed 29th January 2014
10
Mosher,Andy and Sarhan,Saad.(July 18,2005)Death Toll Rises to 100 in Suicide Blast in Iraq.
Fas.org;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/17/AR2005071700338.html,
accessed 31st January 2014
11
Bergen,Peter and Cruickshank,Paul.(N.D.)Al Qaeda in Iraq: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.
Newamerica.net;http://www.newamerica.net/files/Al%20Qaeda%20in%20Iraq%20Study.pdf,
accessed 30th January 2014

UZIEL Fighting Systems 2014