Military Review English Edition November-December 2015 | Page 73

UAS THREAT

technologies to enhance detection capabilities
micromissile. The unhardened nature of smaller UAVs
found in our fielded programs of record such as the
makes the use of electromagnetic pulse tactics possible
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar. Preliminary results
as well.14
from joint tests, as well as observations from exOther technologies to examine that possibly apply
ercises, support retired Air Force Col. David M.
to the C-UAS fight include Extended Area Protection
Neuenswander’s conclusion that “effective C-UAS
and Survivability, a science and technology program
operations require the joint force to fuse air- and
applicable for C-UAS comprised of miniaturized hitground-based sensors in a real-time common operto-kill interceptor technology, high-energy lasers, and
ating picture, enabling the force to detect and engage the use of defensive swarms.
threat UASs using lethal and nonlethal options.”10
Of course, an important issue for any future defeat
Other materiel solutions for improving detection
technology will be the consideration of the cost, as
capability are being examined. More sensors available
analyst Paul Scharre explains:
for detection of the threat, as well as a greater variety of
It is not enough merely to find a way to destroy
sensor capabilities provided by the joint force, increases
an enemy’s drone; it must be done in a cost-efoverall situational awareness of the warfighter. Lessons
fective manner. If taking out a $1,000 enemy
learned from the Israeli C-UAS experience illustrate
drone requires a $1 million missile, then every
this point:
drone shot down is a win for the enemy because
The UAVs pose several challenges…, one
it imposes tremendous costs on the defender.15
of the most important of which is the
process of identification and classification. To deal with this problem, the IAF
[Israeli Air Force] uses a larger number
of detection and identification systems,
both radar-guided and optical.11
Services must modernize their airand-missile defense capabilities and
examine other materiel solutions to address the growing threat. The Department
of Defense is taking a proactive approach
with the military acquisition Milestone A
decision to develop the Army’s Indirect
Fire Protection Capability (IFPC),
Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC Inc 2-I) capability.12 IFPC Inc-2I is a mobile groundbased weapon system, slated to replace
the Avenger system. IFPC is designed to
acquire, track, engage, and defeat multiple
threats, to include UASs. It can provide
360-degree protection and will simultaneously engage threats arriving from different
directions.13 Additionally, C-UAS defeat is
not just achieved by options on the ground.
Traditional electronic warfare will play
a role, along with kinetic alternatives such
(Photo by 1st Lt. Lee-Ann Craig, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment)
as proximity fragmented explosive devices
Soldiers from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st
carried by systems like Spike or United States Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), load ammunition into a
Special Operations Command’s Switchblade
Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System 18 December 2013, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
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