- Yes
- No
History
Protecting high-value military assets from enemy air threats has traditionally been one of the primary challenges for United States Army air defense units. Times have changed, and aircraft and air-to-ground missiles aren’t the only threats they have to contend with. Surprise attack with rocket and mortar shells are most common examples, and recently unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have also emerged as a significant threat.
The U.S. Army initiated the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) program in 2004. This was to protect U.S. ground forces and its critical assets from attack by UAS, cruise missiles (CM), rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM).
Later this is evolved into IFPC Increment 2. There were three IFPC variants: Interceptor variant, High Energy Laser variant, High Power Microwave variant.
The IFPC Increment 2-I (interceptor) was a most traditional solution. It utilized the Multi-Mission Launcher (MML), a short-range air defense launcher designed to launch multiple missile systems to defeat UAS, CM, RAM threats.
The Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) built the MML demonstration unit in 2014. Full prototype vehicle was delivered to the U.S. Army in 2015, and multiple tests were conducted in the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The U.S. Army canceled MML development in 2019 and procured two Iron Dome systems as an interim solution. But that wasn’t the true end of MML. Dynetics developed the MML-based Enduring Shield, and the U.S. Army selected it over Iron Dome as the air defense launcher for the IFPC in 2021.
Description
In current multi-vehicle SAM system, it will be implemented with three vehicles:
- IFPC (TADS)
- IFPC (TEL) ×2
Chassis/Prime Mover: FMTV
Original FMTV specifications, w/o modification for the IFPC
[M1083 5-ton MTV]
- Crew: 3
- Length: 265 in (6.74 m)
- Width: 96 in (2.44 m)
- Height: 111 in (2.82 m)
- Wheel base: 161 in (4.09 m)
- Vehicle curb weight: 24,870 lb (11,281 kg)
- Engine: Caterpillar C7 heavy-duty diesel
- Transmission: Allison MD 3700 SP
- Payload: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
- Towed load: 21,000 lb (9,525 kg)
- Maximum speed: 60 mph (96 km/h)
- Maximum grade: 60%
- Maximum side slope: 30%
[M1157 10-ton Dump]
- Crew: 3
- Length: 307 in (7.8 m)
- Width: 96 in (2.44 m)
- Height: 111 in (2.82 m)
- Wheel base: 161 in (4.09 m)
- Vehicle curb weight: 28,727 lb (13,030 kg)
- Engine: Caterpillar C7 heavy-duty diesel
- Transmission: Allison MD 3700 SP
- Payload: 20,000 lb (9,072 kg)
- Towed load: 26,000 lb (11,793 kg)
- Maximum speed: 60 mph (96 km/h)
- Maximum grade: 60%
- Maximum side slope: 30%
[M1905 Medium Tactical Vehicle Trailer]
- Length: 228 in (5.79 m)
- Width: 96 in (2.44 m)
- Height: 82 in (2.09 m)
- Curb weight: 9,520 lb (4,318 kg)
- Gross weight: 19,520 lb (8,854 kg)
The IFPC Inc 2-I utilizes Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) as a chassis and prime mover.
The radar vehicle is modified M1083 5-ton MTV, and the launcher vehicle is modified M1157 10-ton dump truck.
Radar Vehicle: IFPC (TADS)
The IFPC Inc 2-I system is compatible with the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) Command and Control (C2) architecture. It utilizes existing sensors of the U.S. Army AIAMD Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), including AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel. This was demonstrated in a test by firing the AIM-9X in conjunction with the MPQ-64.
Originally the prime mover of the MPQ-64 was HMMWV, but later the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space (PEO MS) and Letterkenny Army Depot made Sentinel also available for the FMTV. The FMTV and trailers have been modified, but the radar does not require any modifications.
Launcher Vehicle: IFPC (TEL)
The Multi-Mission Launcher on FMTV is configured with three clip assemblies, each with five launch tube (15 total). The MML could rotate 360 degrees and elevate from 0 to 90 degrees.
The launch vehicle also pulls a M1095 5-ton trailer with datalink antenna and 60 kW generator to power the system.
Missiles
The MML tube supports multiple missiles. First one is the AIM-9X Block II, the same one used by in-game CLAWS.
The MML is also compatible with the Tamir missile, a C-RAM interceptor of the Iron Dome.
Finally, and most unique, is the Miniature Hit-To-Kill (MHTK) missile. This is a C-RAM interceptor like the Tamir, but is extremely small in size. This is the only quad-pack capable missile available in the MML, meaning that if you fill all 15 cells with MHTK, you have a total of 60 interceptors.
The disadvantages of the MHTK are that it has no warhead, so it must be direct hit the target, and it has an extremely short range of 3-4 kilometers at best. So it would be virtually ineffective against aircraft.
Sources
- Multi-Mission Launcher from AMRDEC
- Weapon Systems Handbook 2018
- Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 – Intercept (IFPC Inc 2-I)
- DVIDS - News - US Army awards Indirect Fire Protection Capability Inc 2 contract worth up to $4.1 billion
- Army testing air defense system integration | Article | The United States Army
- Multi-Mission Launcher Delivery Ceremony | Article | The United States Army
- New air defense system under development being tested at White Sands Missile Range | Article | The United States Army
- Army completes second test firing of Multi-Mission Launcher program | Article | The United States Army
- Multi-Mission Launcher Preliminary Design Review successful | Article | The United States Army
- U.S. Army successfully demonstrates Iron Dome missile from new interceptor launch platform | Article | The United States Army
- A new vehicle for savings | Article | The United States Army
- The U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) System
- Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) - Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
- U.S. Army successfully fires miniature hit-to-kill missile | Article | The United States Army
- Lockheed Martin's Mighty Mini-Missile Successfully Completes Second Flight Test - Aug 2, 2016
- Army Technology September/October 2014 Volume 2, Issue 5
- https://www.peocscss.army.mil/pddmpvs.html
- Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles: FMTV Cargo 4x4/6x6
- Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles: FMTV 10-ton Dump
- Report No. 99-12, Trailer Cargo, 2.5-Ton MTV M1082, and Trailer Cargo, 5-Ton MTV, M1095, TP-94-01, Transportability Testing Procedures