Iranian Threat Pushes US to Reveal Defense Shield Against Drone Swarms and Missiles

The United States has developed two new defensive solutions aimed at countering the growing threat posed by drone swarms and large-scale missile attacks, under the supervision of "BAE Systems".

The disclosure of the development of these two new systems for dealing with drones and missiles comes as tensions escalate between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, amidst threats to resume military action after the midterm elections.

The two systems aim to provide the US Army with more "flexible and adaptable" defense options, by pushing modern technologies toward operational deployment while maintaining their reliability on the battlefield.

The two systems aim to address the growing gap between the widespread proliferation of drones and the limitations of traditional kinetic defenses that rely on stored munitions; this is achieved by combining high-precision kinetic munitions with the continuous operational capability provided by directed energy technologies.

These two solutions were presented during the events of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference and exhibition currently taking place. They are: the Multi-Domain Artillery Combat System (MDACS), and the High-Power Microwave (HPM) system.

"BAE Systems" stated in a press release that both systems are designed to provide multi-layered defensive capabilities against drones and missiles, with the goal of protecting critical facilities and forces during their movements from attacks launched using large numbers of drones.

The MDACS system represents the kinetic component of this setup, utilizing a range of guided munitions dedicated to air defense and targeting ground objectives.

According to a report published by "army-technology", regarding air defense, the system is designed to launch the "Hypervelocity Projectile", which is a guided munition.

"BAE Systems" mentioned that the system can also use the precision-guided "Scorpio-XR" munition against stationary and moving ground targets.

The company explained that "Scorpio-XR" has a range twice that of current projectiles fired from 155mm guns, while the MDACS system features air transportability and is designed to be mobile on the battlefield.

According to the company, HPM is the directed energy component and uses microwave energy to counter drone swarms.

The construction of this system relies on commercial off-the-shelf components by more than 99%, and it can continue operating as long as electrical power is available, rather than relying on traditional ammunition stocks.

According to a company official, "the threat environment is evolving faster than traditional supply cycles can keep up with".

He clarified that "by leveraging a proven technical foundation and a flexible supply chain, we are delivering a high-maturity solution that ensures continuous defense as long as power is available."