INNOVATION DRAWS INTERNATIONAL INTEREST


fused ammunition, and three used the Coyote Block 2 Inter- ceptor. Treats included single flights and swarms in multiple configurations. All of these scenarios used Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control to provide command and control, engagement operations, situational awareness and auto- mated air-track information to support multiple simultaneous missions with electro-optical infrared sense support from the Nighthawk camera.


Foreign partners noted the Coyote’s automatic re-attack capabil- ity, which enhances “probability of kill” for each round fired. Te detonation associated with the terminal engagement of the kinetic kills, while impressive, is only part of the capabilities available for the LIDS family of systems. Te counter unmanned aircraft electronic warfare system provides an extra layer of defense for integrated kinetic weapon systems and has the ability to mitigate swarms of UAS in multiple configurations.


IN MODERN WARFARE Te number of commercial off-the-shelf drones and the availabil- ity of kits and online tutorials to build drones out of easy-to-find items, means that counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS)


HOW LIDS WORKS


The Low-Slow-Small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integrated Defeat System (LIDS) detects, tracks, iden- tifies and defeats hostile Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 drones. Group 1 drones typically weigh less than 20 pounds, operate below 1,200 feet at speeds slower than 250 knots; Group 2 drones typically weigh 21–55 pounds and operate below 3,500 feet at speeds slower than 250 knots; and Group 3 drones weigh 55–1,320 pounds and operate below 18,000 feet at speeds slower than 250 knots. LIDS accomplishes these tasks through the integration of systems selected from the best of tested technologies available.


AN/TPQ-50 and Ku Band Multifunction Radio Frequency Systems (KuMRFS) detect and track threat drones. All Multimission Radars (MMR) support counter-battery target acquisition, counter-rocket, -artillery, -mortar and -air surveillance for UAS mission requirements. MMR perform multiple missions through the simultaneous search for artillery ballistic targets and air surveillance for detection of drones.


Passive detection relies on intercepting radio frequen- cies remotely guiding the drone with the direction-finding sensor and the electronic warfare module interpreting the signal. Correlation of all sensors and effectors with higher echelon through the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control system provides an integrated air picture and avoids fratricide.


The warfighter uses the electro-optical/infrared (EO/ IR) camera for visual identification, confirmation and classification up to 10 kilometers, depending on size of the drone. The operator then uses the electronic warfare system to compare radio-frequency reception of command or video up- and downlink signals against known systems to identify and classify the drone.


THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY


Adversaries will use swarms of small, cheap, scalable and disposable unmanned systems both offensively and defensively, creating targeting dilemmas for C-UAS. This creates the perfect opportunity to employ a UAS solution— like LIDS. (Photo by Spc. Destiny Jones, U.S. Army)


Defeat of hostile systems requires a defense-in-depth strategy employing interceptor, electronic warfare and gun technologies. The effective range of the Coyote Block 2 Interceptor is approximately 10 kilometers, followed by the electronic warfare system with effects ranging up to 8 kilometers. The XM-914 30 mm chain gun provides the final protective defense.


—MEGHAN E. HALL


56


Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2022


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