Tag Archives: MML

Ground Forces

AIM-9X hits the mark

Integration of the joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force AIM-9X Sidewinder Air Intercept Missile with the Army’s Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) hit the mark as the teams completed a successful live-fire engineering demonstration at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, March 28-April 1.

A Navy and Air Force AIM-9X Sidewinder Air Intercept Missile launches from the Army’s Multi-Mission Launcher during a recent Indirect Fire Protection Capability test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico (U.S. Army photo)
A Navy and Air Force AIM-9X Sidewinder Air Intercept Missile launches from the Army’s Multi-Mission Launcher during a recent Indirect Fire Protection Capability test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico (U.S. Army photo)

During the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) conceptual demonstration, missiles were launched from the MML, locked-on, and intercepted both an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a cruise missile.

«Working closely with our industry partner and the Army, the PMA-259 team established a first-of-its-kind surface-to-air missile capability», said Captain Jim Stoneman, Air-to-Air Missiles (PMA-259) program manager. «We are thrilled with the outcome of the live-fire as it solidifies the repurpose of the missile for use in a surface-launch role. The demo is a testament to the fact that the missile and launcher integration will be an affordable game-changer in future wartime conflicts, and will greatly increase mission effectiveness against aerial adversaries».

The event scenarios validated the lethality of the AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missile in the surface-to-air arena and against smaller target sets, adding to the weapon’s performance portfolio. Prior to the AIM-9X IFPC engineering demonstration, it was capable of being launched only from aircraft to include the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, the U.S. Air Force’s F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, and various international partner aircraft.

«These live fires are a major accomplishment and significant step forward for the Army’s IFPC program and the AIM-9X missile», said Commander Rob Betts, PMA-259 AIM-9X Block II and IFPC military lead. «The Army continues to make extraordinary strides in the development of their IFPC system, and the AIM-9X team is honored to support them. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Army as they utilize the AIM-9X in more advanced surface-to-air scenarios».

The AIM-9X air-intercept missile is 119 inches/3 m in length, weighs 186.2 pounds/84.5 kg and serves to detect, acquire, intercept and destroy a wide range of high-performance airborne and surface threats.

The next step for the AIM-9X IFPC is a Milestone B decision scheduled for summer 2016 which signifies the end of the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase. The IFPC program is expected to enter the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase shortly thereafter, and is scheduled to reach Initial Operating Capability (IOC) early 2020.

Demonstration showcases AIM-9X joint-service venture
Demonstration showcases AIM-9X joint-service venture
Ground Forces

Army testing AIAMD

A series of tests on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico is demonstrating the capabilities of a new air defense system in development by the U.S. Army.

The IFPC Inc 2-I Multi Mission Launcher launches a Longbow Hellfire missile against a UAS representative target on White Sands Missile Range. The MML is a new air defense system undergoing testing on WSMR to integrate new control systems and missiles
The IFPC Inc 2-I Multi Mission Launcher launches a Longbow Hellfire missile against a UAS representative target on White Sands Missile Range. The MML is a new air defense system undergoing testing on WSMR to integrate new control systems and missiles

The Integrated Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept, IFPC Inc 2-I, is a defense system in development to protect Soldiers from aircraft, cruise missiles, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), as well as artillery weapons like cannons, rockets and mortars.

«If you go back and take a look at what has happened in terms of the threat over the last couple years you will find that UAS systems and cruise missiles have really become a problem», said Colonel Terrence Howard, program manager for Cruise Missile Defense Systems. «So we have got to introduce materiel solutions that can address multiple threats».

As an emerging Army air defense system, not only does it have the requirement to defend against a wide variety of threats, but it also must integrate into the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense system. AIAMD is a networked air defense control system also currently going through testing on WSMR.

«The idea behind that is ‘plug and fight,’ take multiple systems, multiple radars, and put it on a network and solve whatever threat situation we have out there», Howard said.

This March and April, IFPC Inc 2-I is conducting several launches to test the system’s ability to launch various missile types, and demonstrate its ability to connect to the AIAMD system and utilize its Integrated Battle Command System, IBCS, a computer system that allows a small number of Soldiers to better manage and control a complex air defense network composed of different radars and missile systems.

«It is about integration of a lot of existing capability», said Tamera Adams, chief engineer with the Army’s Cruise Missile Defense Systems projects. «It is kind of like if you are trying to put together a new stereo system in your house. You are buying speakers from this vendor, a turntable from another and a DVD player from another. You are trying to put them together to get the best capability for your house».

One of the most visible features of the IFPC Inc 2-I system is its Multi-Mission Launcher, MML. The launcher, mounted on a medium tactical truck similar in size to a delivery truck, carries 15 modular missile launch tubes on a turret system allowing the missiles to be launched in almost any direction. The vehicle’s size allows it to be placed in nearly any location, and the tube system will allow the launcher to customize its missile loadout, to meet the requirements of many different missions.

To date the program has launched a Hellfire Longbow and a pair of AIM-9X Sidewinders utilizing the IBCS and sensor data from a Sentinel radar unit, as well as conducting a ballistic test of the Miniature Hit-to-Kill missile, a compact missile intended for use against rocket, artillery and mortar threats. In most of these tests the IFPC Inc 2-I system is being used against targets representing cruise missile or UAS threats to allow the IFPC Inc 2-I test to evaluate not just the systems compatibility with the IBCS and missiles, but also evaluate how it performs against those threats.

«We are firing the entire kill chain and seeing what the end product looks like as we shoot at Unmanned Aerial Systems and cruise missiles», Howard said.

IFPC Inc 2-I is a joint collaborative effort between the Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) for Missiles and Space’s Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office and the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center. Produced largely in house by the Army, the program has seen rapid progress, going from concept, to demonstrator, to its current full featured prototype form in only a few years.

«We have been working for the past 24 months, on maturing the design of our new launcher and integrating with three major existing programs: AIAMD, the sentinel radar system and the AIM-9X missile», Adams said.

As the Army’s premiere location for the test of complex missile and air defense systems, as well as the existing presences of the AIAMD program, WSMR was the logical choice for this test series. WSMR has supported the IFPC demonstrator in previous testing, and is able to provide not only the space, but also the targets, telemetry, staff and infrastructure needed for testing counter cruise missile and UAS systems.

«WSMR has the technical expertise to run these ranges and really provide the data we need to get out of the test and the test results», Howard said. «So we can go back and do our analysis and say ‘did we get this right?’»

More firings are scheduled at WSMR to continue testing the launchers capabilities and compatibility with other missiles and systems.