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US Army Increases Air Defense Against Drones and Missiles with New Battle Command System.
The U.S. Army has successfully integrated its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) with the new Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) weapon system. Developed by Northrop Grumman, IBCS is designed to serve as a mission command and fire control system, consolidating various sensors and effectors for enhanced battlefield management. This integration highlights the system's ability to connect diverse resources across the Army’s defense network.
The U.S. Army has successfully integrated its Integrated Battle Command System with the new Indirect Fire Protection Capability weapon system. (Picture source: US DoD)
The IFPC system, a ground-based solution, is primarily aimed at protecting strategic assets, such as command centers and airfields, from incoming threats. During flight tests conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, IBCS demonstrated its advanced capabilities by detecting, identifying, and tracking two surrogate uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) targets, as well as a surrogate cruise missile. The system then engaged and neutralized these targets using the IFPC weapon system.
IBCS operates with a modular, open, and scalable architecture, connected to a network, enabling the fusion of sensor data from various sources. This capability enhances situational awareness and provides warfighters with a more comprehensive view of the battlefield. By integrating data from multiple sensors, IBCS supports improved decision-making, offering a better response time to counter threats, and serves as a critical asset for joint and coalition multi-domain operations.
Kenn Todorov, Vice President and General Manager of Global Battle Management and Readiness at Northrop Grumman, emphasized IBCS's transformative role in modernizing air and missile defense capabilities. “Thanks to IBCS's innovative, game-changing technology, the U.S. Army can test emerging systems like IFPC, which will help modernize air and missile defense,” Todorov stated. “IBCS’s ready-now capabilities connect any sensor and any effector across the battlefield, allowing the most effective weapon to take out the threat.”
Currently in production, IBCS has already been deployed in Poland and is expected to be deployed in Guam as part of the U.S. Army’s integrated air and missile defense modernization program. The system has been integrated with a wide range of sensors and shooters, including the Patriot, Sentinel, F-35, Common Anti-Air Modular Missile, Giraffe, and Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor.
In June 2024, Northrop Grumman delivered the first IBCS Engagement Operations Centre and Integrated Fire Control Network relay to the U.S. Army. This delivery, along with the Integrated Collaborative Environment provided in December 2023, completes the first set of IBCS units delivered under the low-rate initial production contract. These advancements position IBCS as a central pillar of the U.S. Army’s air and missile defense modernization efforts.