Organic C-UAS? Forward armoured units, artillery, supply and even air defence systems have been regularly subjected to action from Ukrainian drones. The cause of this remains unclear, although the typical Russian approach of operating in batteries of four Tor or six Pantsir, standard in air defecse artillery, may be hampering the level of coverage required against the more invasive drones. If this is the case, the failure may be less of specific weapon systems per se, but rather more to their method of employment in a tactical environment altered by the introduction of UAS and LM. In any case, Russian forward units have no organic capability to detect or engage/neutralise either the ISR UAS or the LM, leaving them entirely reliant on the always limited numbers of specialised air defence systems which may or may not be available. Given the ease of employing multiple drones anywhere on the battlespace, this leaves them vulnerable, as demonstrated in Ukraine. Several industry initiatives, coupled with weapon, ammunition and electronics advances already being fielded or proven, offer the ability to provide, at least, combat vehicle units to deal with tactical drones. One key C-UAS enabler is the vast increase in lethality provided by programable ammunition. The efficiency of air-burst projectiles in taking down soft targets, including airborne UAS, is several times greater than firing other rounds. Rob Menti at Northrop Grumman Armament Systems shared that its 30mm airburst round proved able to down a mini-UAS with a single shot at up to 2,000 metres. Such programable ammunition is widely available from multiple sources, including Nammo, for calibres from 30mm and up, covering guns used in fighting vehicles, as well as for tank main guns, with both Rheinmetall’s DM11 and Northrop-Grumman’s AMP rounds. Effectively detecting the UAS has already proven possible using a number of different radars, such as the SRC family of AESA devices. In addition, 360° panoramic infrared electro-optic search and track development is pushing ahead. Cyril Marchebout, Sales Manager at HGH Infrared, stated his company’s solutions are “allowing operators to identify multiple threats (including UAS) in real-time and react quickly”. Menti further explained that their M-ACE “integrating radar detection, electro-optic tracking, and weapon cueing offers an approach that non-dedicated air defense [does not]. Beyond that, it addresses not only the engagement by front-line weapons of the UAS and LM, but also smarter detection, tracking, identification (DTI) and engagement of the full array of targets they may encounter”. When coupled with tactical networking, it will provide detection by one system to cue engagement by other vehicles. Work on the concept is focused on incorporating these with full on-the-move capabilities, and achieving a favourable pricepoint, supporting broad introduction on combat vehicles. Recognising the UAS/LM Challenges The current Russian-Ukrainian conflict provides the truest representation of the roles and impacts of UAS on future battlefields. It is already suggesting the need for potential critical rethinking of how they can be employed, their ability to affect combat, and both the deficiencies and needs that must be recognised and addressed if they are to be effectively countered. This could include implications for organic, non-dedicated counter-air capability in forward manoeuvre elements, or consideration of changes in the way even dedicated air defence assets are employed. What is becoming clear is that the implications of the introduction of UAS go beyond the Russian and Ukrainian conflict. It should rightly prompt a critical and broad review of tactical force protection of forward forces by all armies. Northrop-Grumman has internally funded development of its MobileAcquisition Cueing, and Effector (M-ACE) system. Integrating radar, day and thermal cameras, RF detectors, rangefinder and geo-positioning/location, it provides cue-to-detection of ground and air targets. Mounted in a pick-up for demonstration, it cued an M230 30mm auto-cannon, using programmable air-burst ammunition, defeating airborne UAS. (Photo: Northrop Grumman) Feature MT 3/2022 · 31
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