Northrop Grumman’s integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) battle command system (IBCS) has successfully destroyed a ballistic missile during its first flight test at an undisclosed location.
Jointly undertaken with the US Army, the testing saw a ballistic missile serve as a threat surrogate against a defended asset, which includes battery and battalion IBCS engagement operations centres, a Patriot radar, and two adapted Patriot launchers connected at the component level to the IBCS integrated fire control network.
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The IBCS track manager established a composite track on the ballistic missile using measurement data from the Patriot radar. The IBCS mission control software assessed the track as a threat, and presented an engagement solution.
The engagement operations centre operator, through the IBCS mission control software, launched two Patriot PAC-2 interceptor missiles to destroy the target.
Northrop Grumman Information Systems integrated air and missile defence division vice-president and general manager said Dan Verwiel said: "Today’s successful intercept test demonstrated the power of the IBCS to conduct net-centric engagements with componentised sensors and launchers."
Army Program Executive Officer, Missiles and Space, brigadier general Neil Thurgood said: "IBCS is crucial to the Army vision for an IAMD C2 capability across all echelons and AMD assets, including joint systems.
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By GlobalData"The success of IBCS allows our ability to acquire needed radars and interceptors to plug into our architecture without having to buy entire systems and to optimise the sensor / shooter relationship to the target.
"Additionally, IBCS allows for a single AMD C2 that is tailorable at every echelon and reduces the training burden while enhancing mission success."
Developed under the direction of the Army IAMD Project Office, ICBS provides wider area surveillance by networking sensors and interceptors, rather than simply linking them. It also enables interoperability with joint command and control (C2) and the ballistic missile defence system.
The system replaces seven conventional C2 systems with a net-centric C2, to reduce single points of failure and also offer flexibility for deployment of smaller force packages.
Since 2010, Northrop has been the IBCS prime contractor and has 300 programme personnel located in Huntsville, Alabama, Dahlgren, Virginia, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Melbourne, Florida; Los Angeles, and San Diego, US.
