Redstone Rocket

A multi-week limited user test is underway to determine if the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), the cornerstone of the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense modernization strategy, is ready to go to soldiers in the field for final testing.

“It’s being tested in an operational environment in the hands of soldiers trained to fight and operate and sustain the system,” said Bill Lamb, director, multi-domain mission command operating unit for Northrop Grumman, which partnered with the Army to develop IBCS. “It’s a full range of testing – hardware-in-the-loop, live air testing and two planned flight tests – and then it goes through what’s referred to as adversarial testing to determine if there are ways to potentially defeat the system.”

The operational test being conducted at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico will produce a set of findings used by Army leaders to decide if the IBCS is ready to proceed to the next stage towards fielding this capability.

Lamb said that, when approved, the next phase involves low-rate initial production of hardware that will be fielded to a unit of the Army’s choice, and new equipment training for the soldiers.

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