Jump to content

Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from LTAMDS)
Launch of a MIM-104 Patriot missile

The United States Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense [IAMD] Battle Command System (IBCS) is a plug-and-fight network intended to let a radar or any other defensive sensor feed its data to any available weapon—colloquially, "connect any sensor to any shooter".[1]: p.42  The IBCS is designed to link radars across thousands of miles and shoot down short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase.[2][3][4]

IBCS was designed to replace eight anti-ballistic missile defense command systems, including Raytheon's Patriot missile engagement control station.[5][6][7][8] Development began in 2004; 18 years later, IBCS completed initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E).[9] It was approved for full-rate production in 2023.[10]

Requirements

[edit]

Part of the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) effort,[11][12][13] IBCS aims to create an integrated network of air defense sensors that can interoperate with IBCS engagement control stations. Such sensors include AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel; AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR;[14] AN/MPQ-53, AN/MPQ-65A and GhostEye (LTAMDS) in the Patriot missile system;[15] GhostEye MR in NASAMS; AN/TPY-2 in Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)[16] and Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD);[15] AN/SPY-1 and AN/SPY-6 in Aegis BMD;[17] and AN/APG-81 in Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.[18][19]

IBCS engagement stations will be able to control Army air-defense systems such as Patriot and THAAD, directing radar positioning and suggesting recommended launchers. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps systems will be able only to share radar tracks or raw radar data.[15] The Army requires all new missiles and air-defense systems to support IBCS.[20]

History

[edit]

In 2010, the Army picked Northrop Grumman to be the prime contractor.

By May 2015, the Army networked an S-280 engagement operations center with radar sensors and interceptor launchers for a test.[21] Following Army doctrine, two interceptors were launched against a target missile, which was destroyed.

By April 2016,[22] IBCS demonstrated sensor fusion from disparate data streams,[2]: minute 2:28  identification and tracking of targets, selection of appropriate kill vehicles, and interception of the targets,[2]: minute 3:29  but the "IBCS software was 'neither mature nor stable'".[22]

In 2018, IBCS was projected to be at its initial operating capability in fiscal 2022.[1]: 42  In January 2018, Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson and Richard Formica suggested that a single unit might operate strategic fires and air/missile defense.[23][24]: min 37:00 [25]

On 1 May 2019, an IBCS Engagement Operations Center (EOC) was delivered to the Army at Huntsville, Alabama.[26]

In July 2019, the TRADOC capability manager (TCM) for Strategic Missile Defense (SMD) accepted the charter for DOTMLPF for the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT).[27][28]

On 30 August 2019 at Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll, THAAD Battery E-62 intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile using a radar that was well-separated from the interceptors and without knowing just when it had launched.[29][30] In the next test, Patriot interceptors were guided by THAAD radars, which have longer detection ranges than Patriot radars.[12][29][31][32]

2020

[edit]

From July (delayed from May by the COVID-19 pandemic[32]) to September 2020, White Sands Missile Range conducted a limited user test of IBCS.[33] In August 2020,[34] an air-defense battalion integrated data from two sensors (Sentinel and Patriot radars) to overcome jamming and shoot down two drones (cruise missile surrogates) with two Patriot missiles.[34] By 20 August 2020, IBCS was used to down two disparate threats in a test: a cruise missile and ballistic missile.[35][36] The battalion then ran hundreds of drills simulating hundreds of threats,[37] providing real-world data to check on Monte Carlo simulations of an array of physical scenarios amounting to hundreds of thousands of cases.[38][39] IBCS created a "single uninterrupted composite track of each threat" and handed off each threat for separate disposition by the air and missile defense's integrated fire control network (IFCN).[40] The battalion used IBCS to detect, track, and intercept near-simultaneous low-altitude targets as well as a tactical ballistic missile[41][38][42][43] The tests allowed Army doctrine to be updated to allow the launch of a single Patriot against a single target.[41][38] As well, the battalion was tapped to run the Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOTE) in 2021[33][44] and 2022.[39]

In September 2020, a joint cruise-missile-defense exercise demonstrated AI-based kill chains formulated in seconds. One of the kills was by a kinetic projectile fired by a tracked howitzer based on the M109.[45][46][47]

From 2009 and 2020, the Army spent $2.7 billion on the program.[43][48]

2021

[edit]

By 2021, the Army awarded a $1.4 billion contract to Northrop Grumman for IBCS.[49]

At the Army's Project Convergence 2021 tech demonstration and experimentation event, IBCS was used to pass information from ground, air, and space sensors to a fire control system.[50] IBCS passed sensor data from an F-35 to AFATDS (Army Field Artillery Tactical Data System), using the aircraft as a spotter for artillery fire.[51][52]: minute 34:00 

2022

[edit]

On 24 February 2022, testers used IBCS to engage targets using various mixes of radars, interceptors, and fire control systems from the THAAD and Patriot systems.[53] For example, in a scenario where a THAAD system has to conserve its All-Up-Rounds, IBCS can calculate which targets are within the reach of its Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors, and fire those instead as needed.[53]

2023

[edit]

IBCS was approved for full-rate production in April 2023, after years of delays.[10]

Raytheon GhostEye (Lower Tier Air and Missiles Defense Sensor)

[edit]

Raytheon's new GhostEye radar (previously Lower Tier Air and Missiles Defense Sensor, LTAMDS)[31] replaces the Patriot AN/SPY-65A radar. GhostEye will be able to feed raw sensor data to IBCS, and it will fit on a C-17 Globemaster.[16][54][55] GhostEye is engineered to operate with much greater sensitivity, improved range and ability to track smaller, faster-moving targets. It uses three fixed 120-degree arrays to seamlessly find, discriminate and track fast-approaching threats using a 360-degree protection envelope. The arrays are overlapping to close "blind spots" and maintain a track if an attacking missile shifts course in flight. GhostEye can detect the precise shape, size, distance and speed of an approaching threat with high-fidelity sensor "pings"; its semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) emitters allow increased resolution, accuracy, and power efficiency.[56][57][58][54][55][59][60][61][62] The fielding of four LTAMDS radars to a battalion is expected in 2023.[63][64] On 2 August 2024 the Army awarded Raytheon a $2 billion low-rate initial production contract for the LTAMDS radar through November 2028.[65]

The Indirect fire protection capability (IFPC)

[edit]

The Indirect fire protection capability (IFPC)[66] Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) will have fielded 50 kW lasers on Strykers[67][68] in 2021 and 2022 to two battalions per year.[69] In late FY2024 an integrated test of LTAMDS, IFPC, and IBCS is planned.[70][71]

Although on 21 August 2019 the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) cancelled the $5.8 billion contract for the Redesigned kill vehicle (RKV),[72][73][74][19] the Army's 100th Missile Defense Brigade will continue to use the Exo-Atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV). The current Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) programs continue per plan, with 64 ground-based interceptors (GBIs) in the missile fields for 2019 planned. Command and Control Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC), was developed by the Missile defense agency (as a development organization) and is integrated with GMD, as demonstrated by FTG-11 on 25 March 2019.[75]: 15:00  By March 2021, the decision to approve further development of the Next Generation Interceptor is on the agenda for the 35th Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. Hicks has extensive background in defense modernization; the 28th Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has recused himself from acquisition matters.[76][77]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b ASA(ALT) Weapon Systems Handbook 2018 Archived 2018-10-19 at the Wayback Machine update Archived 2024-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c IBCS a Revolutionary C2 System, 23 August 2016, archived from the original on 2019-03-23, retrieved 2024-03-13
  3. ^ Daniel Cebul "(12 October 2018) Army continues push for integrated sensors and shooters with latest IBCS contract". 2 October 2018.
  4. ^ Cebul, Daniel (2018-10-08). "Army looks to a future of integrated fire". Defense News. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  5. ^ "Army Seeks To Field One-Size-Fits-All Battle Command System". Space News. 29 June 2004.
  6. ^ Kiley, Gregory T. (17 May 2017). "Congress and the Administration Must Reassess Failing Missile Defense Programs". RealClearDefense. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Fort Sill Tribune staff (August 8, 2019) MOS 14E: Linchpin of Patriot missile system". 8 August 2019. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  8. ^ Jen Judson (11 Oct 2018) "So Patriot and THAAD will talk. What does that really mean?". 10 October 2018.
  9. ^ Hitchens, Theresa (2022-11-09). "Army's IBCS wraps up initial operational testing". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  10. ^ a b Jen Judson (2023-04-12). "US Army greenlights key battle command system for full-rate production". Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  11. ^ Theresa Hitchens (11 Aug 2021) JROC's Next Target: 'Integrated Air & Missile Defense' Archived 17 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine IAMD will eventually be subject to a JROC capability review —John Hyten. JADC2 will thus have to be harmonized with IAMD.
  12. ^ a b "Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense System successfully intercepts test targets". www.army.mil. 12 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  13. ^ "USAASC (2020) Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)". Archived from the original on 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  14. ^ "Army's IBCS passed F-35 sensor data to artillery system at Project Convergence 21". 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  15. ^ a b c Jr, Sydney J. Freedberg (2020-05-15). "Army IBCS: Joint, Up To A Point". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  16. ^ a b Judson, Jen (2019-03-27). "Army debuts missile defense framework in move to counter drones, hypersonic threats". Defense News. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  17. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (2020-10-29). "Here's What The Army's Long-Awaited Super Air Defense Network Can Actually Do". The War Zone. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  18. ^ Judson, Jen (2019-08-07). "F-35 talks to US Army's missile command system, says Lockheed". Defense News. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  19. ^ a b Jen Judson (20 August 2019) US Missile Defense Agency boss reveals his goals, challenges on the job Archived 13 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine Increase the discrimination of the radars and other sensors. Use Large aperture sensors. Use Space-based missile sensors. An SM-3 Block IIA missile test against ICBM is scheduled for 2020. Plan out the detection, control and engagement; the sensors, the command-and-control, the fire control, and the weapons (the kill vehicles).
  20. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. New Missiles Must Work With IBCS Network: Bruce Jette (Exclusive) Archived 2023-10-05 at the Wayback Machine. Breaking Defense. March 09, 2020
  21. ^ "S-280 - the Engagement Operations Center for the Integrated Battle Command System". Northrop Grumman. 6 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-11-14 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ a b Jen Judson (6 February 2017)"Army falls behind with new anti-missile command system". 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  23. ^ Jason B. Cutshaw, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs (30 January 2018) SMDC leader addresses national missile defense community Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) (28 Jan 2018) Distributed Defense: New Operational Concepts for Integrated Air and Missile Defense Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine 2:40:56 James H. Dickinson SMDC
  25. ^ Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces, Congressional Research Service (CRS) (31 May 2022) The Army's Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) Archived 23 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine report IF11797
  26. ^ Sydney J Freedberg (1 May 2019) IBCS: Northrop Delivers New Army Missile Defense Command Post Archived 2 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine 11 EOCs as well as 18 IBCS integrated fire control network (IFCN) relays by year-end 2019
  27. ^ Jason Cutshaw, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (7.24.2019) SMDC colonel accepts TCM SMD Assumption of Charter Archived 2023-10-05 at the Wayback Machine from AMD to SMD
  28. ^ "Readiness for the 21st Century: An interview with retired Gen. David McKiernan". www.army.mil. 23 August 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  29. ^ a b McLeary, Paul (2019-08-30). "Army Tests Dispersed THAAD; Beginning Of Modular Missile Defense?". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  30. ^ MDA.mil MDA NEWS Release (30 August 2019) THAAD System Successfully Intercepts Target in Missile Defense Flight Test Archived 4 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine Flight Test THAAD (FTT)-23 image: https://www.mda.mil/global/images/system/thaad/FTT-23_THAAD_01.jpg Archived 2021-03-19 at the Wayback Machine at Kwajalein
  31. ^ a b "FY20 budget to boost air & missile defense". www.army.mil. 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  32. ^ a b Sydney J Freedberg COVID-19: Army Delays Missile Defense Network Test, breakingdefense.com, 7 Apr 2020, archived from the original on 5 October 2023, retrieved 2 October 2023, The test had been scheduled to begin May 15. An ADA battalion training at WSMR has been sent home.
  33. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (6 July 2020) IBCS: Army Launches Massive Army Missile Defense Test Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine LUT is prerequisite for a Milestone C decision in the acquisition process.
  34. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (13 August 2020) IBCS: Army Missile Defense Passes Most Complex Test Yet Archived 7 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Cox, Matthew (2020-08-21). "Army Destroys Cruise and Ballistic Missile Targets in 2nd Test of New Defense System". Military.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  36. ^ "SMDC target team supports Army IBCS tests". www.army.mil. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  37. ^ "Ft. Bliss Air Defense Soldiers provide data testing new Integrated Air and Missile Defense system". www.army.mil. 11 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  38. ^ a b c South, Todd (2020-08-21). "Army missile defenders defeat cruise and ballistic missiles nearly simultaneously". Army Times. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  39. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (21 August 2020) IBCS Defeats 2 Missiles in Flight – But 100s In Simulation Archived 27 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ^ Defense Brief Editorial (20 August 2020) US Army IBCS intercepts ballistic, cruise missile targets in second LUT test Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine "IBCS integrated the data to form a single uninterrupted composite track of each threat, impossible with any single sensor, which then informed engagement solutions with the best interceptors to engage both incoming threats"
  41. ^ a b Judson, Jen (2020-08-26). "Latest variant of Patriot missile misfired in major test of command system". Defense News. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  42. ^ CJ Robles "(17 Aug 2020) US Army Recycles Rocket Motors to Create Zombies, Saves 50% on Test Missiles". 17 August 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  43. ^ a b Jen Judson (20 Aug 2020) "US Army's future missile defense command system nearly simultaneously defeats cruise, ballistic missile threats". 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  44. ^ Sydney J Freedberg (3 August 2020) Live-Fire Tests In August For Army Air & Missile Defense Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ Theresa Hitchens "ABMS Demo Proves AI Chops For C2", breakingdefense.com, 3 September 2020, archived from the original on 3 October 2023, retrieved 2 October 2023
  46. ^ Dr. Will Roper ABMS 'Ask Me Anything', 25 August 2020, archived from the original on 2024-03-13, retrieved 2024-03-13
  47. ^ Insinna, Valerie (2020-09-04). "Behind the scenes of the US Air Force's second test of its game-changing battle management system". C4ISRNet. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  48. ^ Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) Archived 6 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine vendor summary
  49. ^ Andrew Eversden (23 Dec 2021) Army awards Northrop Grumman $1.4 billion contract for IBCS Archived 24 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  50. ^ Jen Judson (19 Jan 2022) At Project Convergence, Army's new battle command system demonstrated expanded capability Archived 13 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  51. ^ Eversden, Andrew (2022-01-20). "Army's IBCS passed F-35 sensor data to artillery system at Project Convergence 21". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  52. ^ Christine Wormuth (10.11.2021) AUSA 2021 Archived 2022-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
  53. ^ a b Jen Judson (10 Mar 2022) Missile Defense Agency fires Patriot missile from THAAD system Archived 26 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  54. ^ a b Jr, Sydney J. Freedberg (2019-10-17). "LTAMDS: Raytheon To Build Linchpin Of Army Air & Missile Defense". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  55. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (19 March 2020) Raytheon: Robotized Factory Speeds Up Army LTAMDS Radar Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine Avoids DoD5000 by using "Other Transaction Authority (OTA) and Section 804 Mid-Tier Acquisition processes"
  56. ^ "The National Interest: Blog". Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  57. ^ Judson, Jen (2018-10-09). "What's the rush? US Army races to get missile defense radar early". Defense News. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  58. ^ "Army tests prototypes, explores technologies for air, missile defense". www.army.mil. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  59. ^ Raytheon Missiles & Defense (2 Oct 2020) Soldiers See – And Touch – Raytheon Technologies' Full-Scale GhostEye Archived 3 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine in 4 Soldier Touchpoints
  60. ^ Andrew Eversden (11 Oct 2021) Raytheon Announces New Medium-Range Radar System Archived 11 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  61. ^ Defense News (21 Oct 2021) GhostEye - Nothing Goes Unseen Archived 13 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine GhostEye MR (medium range) introduced at AUSA, October 2021
  62. ^ Patrick Tucker (16 Nov 2023) New chip coated with man-made diamonds promises smaller, more powerful radars Archived 25 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine GaN
  63. ^ Jen Judson (2 May 2022) US Army scrambles to keep its new air-defense radar on schedule 1st of 4 LTAMDS radars will enter testing at WSMR in April 2022; 4 radars will be fielded to an LTAMDS battalion by December 2023 to meet the Congressional mandate.
  64. ^ Andrew Eversden (14 Oct 2022) Raytheon aims to finish LTAMDS radar prototypes for Army in January Archived 17 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine 6th radar
  65. ^ Ashley Rocque (2 Aug 2024) Army awards Raytheon $2 billion to begin LTAMDS production
  66. ^ Congressional Research Service (CRS) (6 Jun 2023) The U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) System Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine research report IF12421
  67. ^ "Army accelerates delivery of directed energy, hypersonic weapon prototypes". www.army.mil. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  68. ^ Ryan Pickrell (5 June 2019) The US Army says it will have hypersonic missiles and laser weapons ready for combat in less than 4 years Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  69. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (7 March 2019) US 'Gets Its Ass Handed To It' In Wargames: Here's A $24 Billion Fix Archived 3 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine Army prepositioned stocks (APS) vulnerability
  70. ^ Jen Judson (28 Mar 2023) US Army plans test for combining new air defense capabilities Archived 13 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine FY2024 IAMD: Test Planned for LTAMDS, IFPC, and IBCS
  71. ^ Jen Judson (16 Aug 2023) International interest growing for Army's battle command system Archived 13 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine IBCS
  72. ^ Paul McCleary Pentagon Cancels Multi-Billion $ Boeing Missile Defense Program, breakingdefense.com, 21 August 2019, archived from the original on 5 October 2023, retrieved 2 October 2023
  73. ^ Theresa Hitchens (17 December 2019) Lawmakers Question R&E Oversight; Pump MDA Funding Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine RKV cancellation is prompting a National Defense Authorization Act mandate for a federally funded R&D center (Federally funded research and development centers - FFRDC) study, whether to move the oversight of MDA
  74. ^ Paul McCleary (6 September 2019) Pentagon Issues Classified RFP For New Missile Interceptor Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine No Refund of Monies expected. Rework is To Be Determined
  75. ^ AUSA (12 Mar 2020) Army SMD Hot Topic 2020 - VADM Jon Hill - Dir, Missile Defense Agency Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  76. ^ Paul McCleary (12 Mar 2021) New Missile Defense Program On Deputy SecDef's Desk, Awaiting Approval Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine 20 GBIs are planned.
  77. ^ Aaron Mehta (12 September 2021) "US Successfully Tests New Homeland Missile Defense Capability Archived 2023-10-05 at the Wayback Machine MDA's "2-/3-Stage selectable GBI" Breaking Defense
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Integrated_Air_and_Missile_Defense_Battle_Command_System&oldid=1262252729#Raytheon_GhostEye_(Lower_Tier_Air_and_Missiles_Defense_Sensor)"