/reeve.gif)
VIDEO by Raytheon
Not only the Marines want UAV-killers, some spotters want them as well...
Marines Want Defense Against UAVs
Posted by Graham Warwick at 8/13/2010 9:31 AM CDT
The US Marine Corps is looking for contractors to take part in a counter-UAV ground-based air defense (GBAD) capability demonstration in 2011, and the invitation is worded to allow high-power lasers and other non-kinetic weapons to participate.
Photo : Boeing
The Marines plan to award up to three $300,000 contracts to enable systems to participate in Back Dart, an annual tri-service exercise to demonstrate unmanned aircraft and counter-unmanned aircraft capabilities.
The intent is to collect data on the ability of short-range air-defense systems to negate UAVs.
The Marines have an initial capabilities document describing the requirements for a mobile system to defend against low-radar-cross-section threats such as UAVs.
The system must be Humvee-mounted and transportable by C-130.
They want 360-deg, day/night, all-weather protection with a threshold intercept range of 7km and an objective of 20km.
It has to work in rain and they want to know how well it will work in fog.
Laser Avenger. (Photo : Boeing)
The counter-UAS GBAD capability demonstration, planned for July/August 2011, sounds like an opportunity for high-energy lasers to get their foot in the door.
Boeing has already demonstrated its Humvee-mounted Laser Avenger can shoot down UAVs, but the Marine Corps demonstration will likely be more demanding.
Raytheon has also shot down UAVs with its Laser Phalanx naval close-in weapon system, but Phalanx and its Centurion land-based version are too big to fit on a Humvee.
It's likely the company can develop a smaller system. Both Boeing and Raytheon use industrial high-power fiber lasers, although Northrop Grumman and others have demonstrated weapons-grade solid-state lasers.
Video: Raytheon
With efforts to counter enemy UAVs increasing, so is interest in protecting friendly UAVs and their sensors from laser attack.
The US Navy has recently awarded two small-business research contracts to develop systems to counter directed-energy weapons.
Texas-based Nahomics' Argus laser threat assessment system uses wide-angle non-imaging optics to detect and locate laser sources, allowing the UAV to take evasive action, engage optical sensor protection or direct countermeasures at the threat.
California-based Adsys Controls' Counter DEW system provides early threat detection before high-power engagement and uses "novel" countermeasures to disrupt the weapon's tracking mechanisms.