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Drones or unmanned vehicles are becoming a major threat as more and more countries develop and rely on them. The latest conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia also saw extensive use of drones.
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Thus, faced with the imminent threat of drones, it is important to be able to defend against them in the event of a confrontation. While the US Defense Forces brag about air superiority with their most advanced and lethal combat aircraft, they have recognized its short-range air defense capability (SHORAD) deficiency.
“Since 2005, there has been a dramatic increase in aerial and missile platforms that could threaten US ground forces. The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has increased exponentially, and both sides have successfully used UAS in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Additionally, fixed-wing aircraft, attack helicopters, and cruise missiles continue to pose a significant threat to US ground forces. ” set the Congressional Research Service in 2018.
As a result, Congress has already invested billions of dollars to implement Initial Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD). General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), which partnered with Leonardo DRS and Raytheon, received a $ 1.2 billion contract.
The Army’s initial order is reportedly for 28 vehicles, $ 230 million, however it plans to acquire 180 such IM-SHORAD Stryker systems.
IM-SHORAD is an air defense artillery to counter threats from UAS and other fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.
According to the official document of the Congressional Investigation Committee, the Army requires the Stryker combat vehicle as a chassis with an unmanned turret that will include: two Hellfire missiles capable of hitting ground and air targets; four Stinger missiles for less armored air targets in one launcher; a 30mm autocannon; a 7.62mm machine gun; Electronic Warfare (EW) package to counter selected enemy systems; and a Rada (Israeli) multi-mission radar capable of tracking both ground and air targets.
However, while the US Army is shutting down to procure the weaponry, it is reportedly facing several technical issues before the Army can put it into service.
The platform went through technological problems, including integrating a 30mm cannon and a Stinger missile system with the platform, it reported. Janes.
“The accelerated nature of the program, in order to deploy critical capabilities to the warrior, presents unique challenges for us to bring the capabilities to the warrior,” said Lt. Col. Beau Barker, M-SHORAD Product Manager within the Executive Office. of the PEO Program) Missiles and space said Janes.
“A specific technical challenge is integrating mature weapons systems such as the M299 launcher, the Stinger missile system and the 30mm cannon,” he added. “Although each component is mature on its own, they must be integrated to function as a system.”
David Hambling from Forbes recalled the bad fate of DIVAD (Division of Air Defense), also called Sergeant York, a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the M48 Patton tank with twin Bofors 40mm rapid-firing radar-guided guns. It suffered several obstacles in development and was finally shelved in 1985, eight years after development began, at a cost of $ 1.8 billion.
“The radar, designed for air-to-air combat, struggled with ground-level clutter and mistook trees fluttering in the wind as targets. During a test, he was hooked to a latrine fan; In another test, the fire control computer pointed the guns at a stand full of watching personalities, causing minor injuries as they scrambled for cover. In one test, a target drone had to fly 18 times before Sergeant York could shoot it down, ”recalls Hambling in his report.
He concluded that even if SHORAD-IM is successful and received by 2023, as planned, the world would have moved forward in terms of the threat it will face since the program was adopted in 2015.
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