WAAY TV:
The US Army Air and Integrated Missile Defense program successfully intercepted a Cruise Missile surrogate target using a Patriot Advanced Capability Three, or PAC-3, interceptor and composite track data from Sentinel and Patriot Radars today at White Sands Missile Range.
This test was necessary to show the Army’s capability to identify, track, engage and kill a target using an interceptor from one system and sensors from another. Both operate together using the Integrated Fire Control Network under the control of Northrop Grumman’s Battle Command System.
The Cruise Missile surrogate, an MQM-107 Drone Target, flew towards an asset defended by a task force comprised of a Battalion Engagement Operations Center, a non-collocated Battery EOC with a Patriot radar, a remote IFCN Relay connected to two Patriot PAC-3 Launchers and two remote Sentinel radars connected to IFCN Relays, all of which were operating on the IFCN.
Because the target was flying at such a low altitude, it was below the Patriot radar’s field of vision, but this was by design. The IBCS system correctly used the Sentinel composite tracking data to enable the PAC-3 missile to intercept.
The AIAMD System of Systems and the IBCS is to move away from standalone systems and move towards one system that allows them all to talk to each other…
