BAE Systems unveiled two new defence solutions aimed at countering the growing threat of mass drone swarms and missile attacks.
Presented at the ongoing Association of the United States Army (AUSA) event, the solutions include the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) and High Power Microwave (HPM) system.
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In a release issued on 12 October, BAE Systems stated that both systems are intended to deliver layered counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) and counter-missile capabilities to safeguard vital installations and manoeuvring forces from large-scale drone attacks.
The MDACS and HPM systems aim to address the growing gap between the widespread use of drones and the limitations of conventional, magazine-dependent kinetic defences by combining high-precision kinetic munitions with the sustained operational capacity of directed energy technologies.
MDACS is the kinetic component, using a family of guided munitions for air-defence and ground-target roles.
For air defence, the system is designed to fire the Hypervelocity Projectile, a guided round. It can also use the Scorpio-XR precision-guided munition against fixed and moving ground targets, BAE said.
The company said Scorpio-XR has twice the range of existing 155mm cannon-launched projectiles, while MDACS is air-transportable and intended to be mobile across the battlefield.
HPM is the directed-energy component and uses microwave energy to counter drone swarms, according to BAE Systems.
The system is built using more than 99% commercial off-the-shelf components and can continue operating while electrical power is available, rather than relying on conventional ammunition stocks.
The two systems are intended to provide the US Army with more “resilient and adaptable” defence options by moving established technologies towards operational deployment while maintaining battlefield reliability.
BAE Systems weapon systems product line vice president Jason Casciotti said: “The threat environment is evolving faster than traditional procurement cycles can keep up with. By leveraging a validated technical core and a resilient supply chain, we are delivering a high-maturity solution that ensures that as long as there is power, there is defence.”
