The number of US Marines will more than triple
Training of crew of Stinger MANPADS from the ILC
Since 2020, the Pentagon has been implementing a program for the development and modernization of the Marine Corps called Force Design 2030. As part of this program, over the course of the current decade it is planned to increase the number and increase the combat capability of the Marine Corps. These or other innovations will affect all the main components of the Corps. In particular, measures are envisaged to improve and re-equip air defense units.
Starting positions
At the moment, the Marine Corps does not have a large and developed military force. Defense. The main work of protecting troops from air attack should be carried out by fighter aircraft from the aviation Corps or provided by the Navy. In addition, in appropriate circumstances, naval anti-aircraft guns can provide cover for troops at sea and on shore. missile complexes.
The anti-aircraft capabilities of the linear land/amphibious units and the Marine Corps are much more modest. The troops widely use and distribute the FIM-92 Stinger portable air defense missile system. Small-caliber anti-aircraft missiles can also be used against low-flying targets. artillery or large-caliber machine guns on combat vehicles.
The battalions (divisions) of “Low-Altitude Air Defense” from the ILC aviation wings have similar capabilities. Each wing is assigned only one such part. The battalion has several batteries equipped with AN/TWQ-1 Avenger self-propelled systems. Vehicles of this type are built on the HMMWV chassis and carry a 12,7 mm M3P machine gun, as well as up to 8 Stinger missiles. The activities of the Avengers are supported by radars of the AN/TPS-80 type and older products.
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air defense system during exercises
The existing structure and equipment of military air defense within the ILC has long been criticized. Without abandoning the usual rhetoric about the superiority of its weapons and equipment, the Pentagon has long pointed out the need for changes. It is necessary to increase the number of air defense units, introduce new models into service, and create a full-fledged layered system suitable for rapid deployment in a given area.
Actual plans
From April 30 to May 2, the regular annual Modern Day Marine conference was held in Washington, dedicated to issues of service and development of the ILC. On the first day of the event, Colonel Mike McCarthy, who leads the aviation systems direction in the office of the Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Aviation, gave an interesting presentation. He recalled the events of the recent past, and also revealed plans for the further development of the aviation and air defense components of the Corps.
Colonel McCarthy recalled what the KMA air defense looked like before the launch of the Force Design 2030 program. So, in 2019, the KMP had only four batteries with the Stinger and Avenger complexes. Subsequently, measures were taken to increase the number of anti-aircraft units and complexes. Now we are talking about several larger battalions. The development of KMP air defense will not stop there.
According to M. McCarthy, current plans are aimed at increasing the overall firepower of air defense, as well as improving the structure of anti-aircraft units in accordance with general changes in the ILC. A key feature of Force Design 2030 is enhancing the Corps' capabilities in the context of force deployment and distribution. Along with other forces and means, various air defense systems or other systems should be deployed.
Multifunctional radar AN/TPS-80 in service with the ILC
To achieve this, first of all, general quantitative indicators will be increased. Until 2029 inclusive, it is planned to increase the number of anti-aircraft batteries in the KMP to 15, including reserves. In essence, we are talking about multiple growth, although the low base effect should be taken into account.
New designs
The ILC command plans to maintain the existing Stinger and Avenger close-range systems in service. There are no plans to replace standard MANPADS in ground/amphibious units and formations due to the lack of domestic alternatives, and the self-propelled AN/TWQ-1 is still generally satisfactory for the Corps.
Colonel McCarthy said that in 2025 the Marine Air Defense will receive and deploy a modern analogue of the Avenger with improved parameters - the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) missile and gun system. Several similar systems have previously undergone trial operation, and now we are talking about full delivery. The MADIS system is built on two JLTV armored vehicles, one of which carries a combat module with a 30-mm cannon and Stinger missiles, and on the second, the same DUBM is supplemented by a radar with an AESA, a station EW and other devices.
Also next year, another complex of a new model will begin service - Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC). This air defense system was developed based on components of the American-Israeli Iron Dome air defense system. It is a mobile complex with a launcher for the Tamir interceptor missile.
New fire weapons are planned to be networked with AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR surveillance radars. In November 2023, the industry was issued an order to complete the development and delivery of the first radars of the new Medium Range Air Defense Radar (MRADR) model.
Experienced MRIC air defense system
The exact delivery schedule for certain products, for obvious reasons, is not reported. At the same time, it is easy to see that the KMP does not require a large amount of equipment, and its production will not take too much time. However, all the required structural transformations and supplies of equipment will take at least five years in total and will be completed only at the end of the decade. Then the KMP air defense will receive all the desired capabilities and functions.
Defense in depth
At the moment, the Corps' air defense units only have Stinger missiles and heavy machine guns, which seriously limits their combat capabilities, range and range of targets they can hit. Based on the results of ongoing and planned purchases, the KMP should receive a full-fledged echeloned military air defense with fairly broad capabilities.
The AN/TPS-80 multifunctional radar in service is designed to illuminate the air situation within a radius of up to 250-300 km. The maximum detection range corresponds to large targets with large RCS - airplanes, helicopters and large UAVs. At the same time, G/ATOR can detect and track other objects, including artillery shells and unguided missiles. In counter-battery locator mode, this product has a range of up to 70 km. The tactical and technical characteristics of the promising MRADR product have not yet been disclosed, but it is clear that it will not be inferior to the current AN/TPS-80.
The MRIC air defense system with the Tamir missile will be used as a long- and medium-range air defense fire weapon in the KMP. The latter has an interception range of up to 70 or up to 250 km, depending on the modification. The missile is capable of operating against targets in a wide range of altitudes. Like the Israeli Iron Dome, the American MRIC complex will have to intercept aerodynamic and ballistic targets.
Combat vehicles of the MADIS complex
In the medium term, the short-range air defense echelon of the KMP will be built on several complexes at once, unified in terms of ammunition and having significant differences. Thus, the existing AN/TWQ-1 Avenger and FIM-92 Stinger will remain in service. Self-propelled and portable air defense systems of older models will continue to be used against large aerodynamic targets.
The modern MADIS air defense missile system will also be able to hit “traditional” targets, but it will be tasked with searching for and destroying small and medium-sized UAVs, high-precision weapons and so on. objects with low RCS, overly complex or invulnerable to old technology. In terms of maximum engagement range, the missile and gun MADIS is practically no different from the Avenger or Stinger, but has advantages in terms of detecting and processing complex targets characteristic of the present time.
Thus, the KMP ultimately wants to obtain an air defense system capable of detecting a variety of aerodynamic and ballistic targets within a radius of at least 200-300 km and hitting them in a similar range. With high combat qualities, all components of such a system must have high mobility and agility corresponding to the specifics of the Corps' work.
Interim results
Several years ago, the state and capabilities of the air defense of the US Marine Corps left much to be desired. The structure and equipment of the relevant units have not actually changed for several decades and do not meet current requirements. Only in 2020 did a program to modernize the ILC and its anti-aircraft component start.
To date, the Pentagon has only managed to increase the number of anti-aircraft units and give them old-type equipment and weapons, which could not lead to fundamental changes. However, completely new models with a different level of characteristics and capabilities are expected to enter service next year. The positive consequences of this are obvious, but a complete restructuring of the KMP air defense still remains a matter of the distant future.
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