By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
High-speed mobile drone destruction, targeting enemy helicopters and even using EW to “jam” attacking drone swarms are a few of the operational advantages woven into the Marine Corps emerging air-defense, counter=drone weapons systems.
The Corps continues to accelerate and produce its breakthrough Marine Air Defense Integrated System, a vehicle-mounted radar, EW and interceptor weapons system built to track and destroy enemy drones, helicopters and low-flying fixed wing targets while on the move in combat. The integrated system, which combines an Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle with sensors, EW, radar, turret-launched Stinger missiles and a direct=fire weapon operated with a remote weapons station.
The Marine Air Defense Integrated System technology was cited in a critical, recently published Marine Corps text called “Force Design 2030: Acquisition for the Future Battlefield.” The essay is a companion text or extension upon the Corps’ Marine Corps Force Design 2030 main document released last year, a strategy paper explaining the need for the Corps to further accelerate its transition back to its maritime roots and transform the Corps into a lighter, faster, easier-to-deploy, yet highly lethal expeditionary, multi-domain force.
“Today, we’ve implemented systems like the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System and we’re seeing the emergence of Installation Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In a very short period of time, we’ve established a comprehensive suite of capabilities designed to counter the full range of aerial threats to Marines,” the text states.
The Force Design 2030 text calls for a rapid increase in the use of unmanned systems and multi-domain operational flexiblity and networking. While the Corps will still keep some heavy armor, much of the essay reflects the growing realization that lighter, portable anti-armor weapons, when supported by drones and multi-domain networking, can have a devastating and highly lethal impact and be more mobile, faster, multi-domain capable and easier to deploy.
The Marine Air Defense Integrated System evolves beyond the use of dismounted, hand=held Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to engineer a “short-range surface-to-air shoot on-the-move air defense weapon.” The vehicle-integrated system also incorporates extensive EW and other C-UAV (counter drone) air defense weapons designed to attack on the move and “protect the maneuver force.” Marine Corps detail on the system also cites a 360-degree radar and command and control suite supported by a direct fire weapon operated from a remote weapons system.
The Corps’ document describes the importance of moving beyond dismounted, soldier-fired shoulder weapons such as the Stinger or other MANPADs and expanding operational capability to enable mounted, mobile, on the move counter-air and counter-drone weaponry able to address a new generation of air threats.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – the Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
