The Marines are one step closer to defeating unmanned aircraft systems.

In December, Program Executive Officer RAND Systems successfully tested a low-rate early production model of the Maritime Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) during a live-fire test at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, with multiple drones fired. It hit.

Live-fire testing applied MADIS to real-world battlefield scenarios to detect, track, identify, and defeat unmanned aerial threats.

“MADIS is capable of completing the entire kill chain, and we witnessed that during this event,” said Col. Andrew Konicki, Ground Air Defense Program Manager. “This is central to mission success and the ability to neutralize airborne threats, resulting in increased lethality.”

MADIS is a short-range surface-to-air system that enables low-altitude air defense battalions to interdict and neutralize unmanned aircraft systems and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The systems, installed on two joint light tactical vehicles, are a complementary pair. MADIS includes multiple disparate systems, including radar systems, surface-to-air missiles, and command and control elements. In layman's terms, one detects and the other attacks.

Drones remain a threat, especially with the advent of readily available off-the-shelf products. MADIS uses real-time communications and coordination to destroy or neutralize low-altitude air threats in the defense of Marine Corps air ground forces.

“The importance of countering UAS threats cannot be overstated,” Konicki said. “We see it all over the news. Madis is the key. We're excited to convey this to the Marine Corps.”

During testing, MADIS successfully tracked and hit multiple targets using Stinger missiles and a 30mm gun. Information was passed through a common air command and control system to “combat pairs” of vehicles, which carried out engagements while continuing to track other UAS targets.

“We developed it using a combination of different commercial off-the-shelf technologies and government off-the-shelf technologies,” Konicki said. “This is a capability that the Marine Corps has not had before and has been a challenge for the acquisition community. This test event shows we have met that challenge.”

According to Maj. Craig Warner, product manager for Future Weapon Systems, the program office plans to conduct additional live-fire testing in FY24 for new equipment training, system validation testing, and initial operational testing and evaluation prior to the start of field deployment. It is said that it is planned. The 3rd Coastal Anti-Aircraft Battalion will be the first battalion in the Marine Corps to receive his MADIS.