News of War Staff Writer
U.S. Army and Leidos Showcase Advanced Drone Defence System at MFIX 2024
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – In a recent demonstration at the Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment (MFIX) 2024, Leidos, in partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Center, unveiled a significant advancement in drone defence technology. The event was a key moment in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) defence, a sector that has gained global attention, especially in light of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine where such technologies are of paramount importance.
The demonstration centred around the Advanced Multilayered Mobile Force Protection (AM2FP) system. This counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS), mounted on a high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), has been developed to autonomously protect high-value assets from small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) threats.
The uniqueness of the AM2FP system lies in its ability to track and accurately identify 100% of the presented threats in cluttered environments, a feat that distinguishes it from other systems in the field. It successfully demonstrated its capability to identify both single and swarm threats while in motion, a characteristic not observed in other C-sUAS systems present at the MFIX.
Steve Cook, President of Leidos Dynetics, highlighted the significance of this achievement, emphasising the system's autonomous tracking and identification capabilities. He remarked on the potential of AM2FP to provide a strategic advantage in various operational scenarios, including those on current and future battlefields.
The MFIX 2024 event served as a platform for the U.S. Army and Department of Defense to assess new advancements and improvements in the C-UAS domain. The AM2FP system not only showed an enhanced performance compared to its last year's demonstration but also displayed improved integration with the Army's Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) architecture.
This integration was showcased during the Distinguished Visitor Day, where the system autonomously engaged and neutralised multiple threats, while simultaneously relaying radar and weapon status to the FAAD C2 system.
Originating from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Mobile Force Protection (MFP) program, the AM2FP system incorporates a multi-layer defense architecture aimed at countering unauthorised drone intrusions in both stationary and mobile military operations.
Key components of the system include the Multifunction X-Band Radar (MXR), an X-Band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and two types of reusable interceptors.
An integral part of this system is the Co-axial Unmanned Guided Autonomous Rotorcraft (CUGAR), an innovative, cost-effective, and highly reusable autonomous interceptor, demonstrated to be effective against Group 1 and 2 sUAS threats.
The ongoing upgrades to the MXR sensor, CUGAR interceptor, and the C2 system are managed by the U.S. Army DEVCOM AvMC Radar Operations Facility (ROF) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. This advancement forms part of a broader initiative by Leidos to address critical challenges in national security and health, continuing their support for crucial missions for both government and commercial sectors globally