CCDC’S ROAD MAP TO MODERNIZING THE ARMY: AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE
means funding has been approved so the program can move forward.
Layer 2: MMHEL
One of the key areas the Army is accelerating is solid-state high- energy laser (HEL) technology. More-efficient laser technology will enable laser-directed energy to be carried on smaller, more mobile Army platforms, which will increase combat capability and improve sustainment. Solid-state laser systems can engage and destroy incoming munitions and drones at a low cost per kill compared with fielded air and missile defense systems.
TIERED DEFENSE
Air and missile defense capabilities are being developed that will create a tiered, layered defense.
Layer 1: The Ballistic Low Altitude Drone Engagement is used with the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station to shoot down unmanned aerial systems.
Layer 2: The Multi-Mission High Energy Laser, a laser weapon system integrated onto a combat platform, can engage and destroy incoming munitions and drones.
Layer 3 and 4: Maneuver Air Defense Technology interceptor technologies are designed for integration into the Maneuver – Short-Range Air Defense platform to enable a greater level of protection by hitting larger aircraft at increased ranges. Eventually the missile interceptor technologies will operate with next-generation fires radar technology via the network.
Layer 5: The High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator will protect sites from rockets, artillery and mortars, and unmanned aerial systems.
Layer 6: Low-Cost Extended Range Air Defense missile interceptor technology will defeat subsonic cruise missiles and lethal unmanned aerial systems, leaving the advanced Patriot interceptors for the more stressing threats.
(SOURCE: CCDC)
CCDC’s Army Research Laboratory supports the Army by developing and maturing new fiber laser technology that gives lasers higher power and more efficient output with reduced size, weight and complexity. Tese higher-power laser systems will have increased lethality and range. Te main advantage of fiber lasers is that the laser beam quality is extremely high, which enables the laser beam to focus tightly at long distances. Delivering the laser power into a small area is the key to lethal- ity at long ranges.
Te Multi-Mission High Energy Laser (MMHEL), a laser weapon system integrated onto a combat platform, is part of the family of laser technology that the Army is developing. In addition to lethal effects, high-energy lasers can be used for long-range surveil- lance and tracking.
A Level 7 operational demonstration with the MMHEL will be conducted in fiscal year 2021 using a variety of targets. Ten, in fiscal year 2022, RCCTO will field a platoon of four Stryker vehicles with an experimental MMHEL prototype with resid- ual combat capability in support of Maneuver – Short-Range Air Defense.
Layers 3 and 4: MADT and Next-Gen Fires Radar
Te Maneuver Air Defense Technology (MADT) project is devel- oping critical technologies to enable a greater level of protection by hitting larger aircraft at increased ranges compared with fielded Short-Range Air Defense Systems.
Te MADT missile interceptor technologies are designed for integration into the Maneuver – Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) platform. Te Army recently announced that the first five prototypes of that platform will be delivered for testing
74
Army AL&T Magazine
Fall 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156
