SUPPORTING THE FUTURE FORCE
capabilities that are not interconnected and cannot communicate with each other toward layered defenses that will work together to protect against a full spectrum of air and missile threats. For example, to communicate, Soldiers rely on remote systems such as satellites and aircraft, both manned and unmanned, as well as computers. Communication among joint forces and across multiple domains will be particularly important in future battles, where adversaries will attack land, air, sea, space and cyber operations.
CCDC is increasing combat capability by providing technology and engineer- ing expertise to support the Army’s air and missile defense strategy. Te tech- nologies will become critical capabilities that will increase in lethality and range to create domes of protection. (See side- bar, Page 74.) Tese domes of protection will work together and provide layers of defense, giving Soldiers the weapons they need to dominate any adversary and to protect U.S. and friendly forces and high- value assets.
DOMES OF PROTECTION Layer 1: BLADE (smallest, most mobile dome of protection)
At the tactical edge, maneuvering Soldiers need to have local protection to shoot moving targets such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which range from Group 1 (very small UAS) to Group 5 (the largest UAS). Te Ballistic Low Alti- tude Drone Engagement (BLADE) is a set of enabling technologies that are inte- grated with an armament system to defeat smaller unmanned aerial systems at close ranges, which includes the distance a Soldier can see a UAS without using binoculars. Its intuitive interface makes the BLADE easy for Soldiers to use.
The BLADE system works with the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS), and uses advanced fire control and precision targeting enablers to detect, track and defeat unmanned aerial systems. Mounted on a tactical vehicle, CROWS contains a sensor suite and fire control software that allow the warfighter to remotely engage targets.
CROWS can engage targets during the day or at night, and includes a daytime video camera and a thermal camera.
Anyone who has fired a machine gun knows how difficult it is to hit a moving target; the radar and fire control software in the BLADE enabled it to hit a small UAS with a short burst of fire during an engineering test that the BLADE team conducted on prototypes in June at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
A final Level 6 technology readiness demonstration for the BLADE system will be conducted later this year. Technol- ogy readiness levels refer to the maturity of a technology and range from Level 1 to Level 9. (See “Levels of Technology Readiness” graphic, Page 61.) Level 6 is a model or prototype that has been tested in an operational environment, such as an aircraft or vehicle. Once we get a technol- ogy to the point where it can transition out of CCDC, which is typically Level 6, it transitions to program managers and program executive offices who make the technology a program of record, which
CHECK FOR INCOMING
A close-up of the BLADE prototype mounted on a truck during an engineering test in June at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Along with the BLADE system, advanced radar technology helps determine the range, elevation, size and speed of incoming aircraft and projectiles. (Photo by Marian Popescu, CCDC Armaments Center BLADE team)
https://asc.ar my.mil
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