MARINE CORPS AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS SYSTEMS

Mission — Air Defense Weapons System source

Marine Corps Air Defense Weapons Systems includes multiple Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Force Design priority items. It supports the Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion's mission of Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and provides the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to include; maneuver forces, bases, posts and stations, the necessary force protection to defeat the full spectrum of threats associated with the Marine Corps Low Altitude Air Defense mission, to include hostile aerial threats from Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and manned fixed wing/rotary wing aircraft. With the proliferation of both military and commercial UAS and platforms, the program is pursuing and acquiring more lethal and survivable air defense weapons systems platforms; such as JLTV's with armored protection and better maneuverability than a HMMWV, providing increased Counter-UAS (C-UAS) and FW/RW capabilities now and continually spiraling out increasing capability for the foreseeable future. Based on an Urgent Universal Need Statement (UUNS), a Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON), and a Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON) the Marine Corps has aggressively pursued CUAS solutions in support of deployed Marines and critical facilities. The development of these solutions has been leveraged heavily by the MADIS onto two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV). MADIS is an ACAT II Program of Record that initiated at MS B in 3Q FY 2021 and achieved MS C in 3Q FY 2023. Marine Air Defense Integrated System Family of Systems (MADIS FoS): MADIS FoS provides the Marine Corps with an organic, upgradable, and state of the art capability to protect MAGTF maneuver forces, installations and other designated defended assets from Fixed/Rotary Wing (FW/RW) aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The MAGTF is at increased risk of lethal air attack and fires coordination from next generation aircraft as well as significant advances from small UAS (sUAS) threats due to their rapid development and proliferation by the commercial sector, which has increased their nefarious use by both state and non-state actors. To address these threats, the MADIS FoS consists of mission tailored variants designed for sustained operations ashore, afloat, and aboard installations. The MADIS FoS includes the fielded Advanced Man Portable Air Defense System (A-MANPADS) which provides close-in, low altitude, surface-to-air fires and command and control in defense of the MAGTF. It also includes the MADIS, which will replace the A-MANPADS systems, which is accomplished with the development, test, and installation of Government Furnished C-UAS and air defense equipment on two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV). The MADIS Inc 1 Block 1 system is comprised of two vehicles: a MK 1 (Stinger variant), and a MK 2 (CUAS variant). MADIS Increment 1 Block 2 focuses on the development of increased kinetic and non-kinetic lethality capabilities. This includes the development of various technologies to counter swarms and enhancements for a direct fire CUAS capability, that can be integrated into the MADIS FoS. The MADIS FoS also includes the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (L-MADIS), which is accomplished with the development, test, and installation of Government Furnished C-UAS equipment on two Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle (ULTV). The L-MADIS Program of Record (PoR) system is comprised of a MK 1 (Command and Control vehicle), and a MK 2 (Early Warning / Electronic Warfare vehicle). The L-MADIS PoR replaces the systems fielded under a Joint Emergent Operational Need. The L-MADIS provides the Marine Corps a capability different than that of the MADIS. The L-MADIS is transportable within organic Marine Corps R/W aircraft, allowing Marines to face challenging operational scenarios during Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) operations. The L-MADIS protects the maneuver force from the threat of UAS, Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing (FW/RW), and other airborne threats throughout the operating environment while maintaining Marine Corps expeditionary requirements. Marine Corps Air Defense Weapons Systems also includes the Installations-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System (I-CsUAS). I-CsUAS provides protection of USMC critical assets on permanent and temporary installations from sUAS threats; primarily Group 1 through 3 commercial-off-the-shelf sUAS. This system enhances force protection of critical defended assets on USMC installations in both CONUS and OCONUS locations. The system will detect, track, identifies and defeats sUAS. I-CsUAS is currently operating under an Urgent Statement of Need (USON) and the capability is being provided as a service. Based on lessons learned during the USON, it was determined that the most economical acquisition pathway for the I-CsUAS program of record (PoR) is to procure the systems. As the PoR systems are procured, they will replace "one-for-one" the six USON locations while fielding to additional locations determined by the Marine Corps. Next Generation Short Range Intercept (NGSRI): The Stinger missile is the primary effector against short range air defense threats. However, the Stinger missile is becoming obsolete for the future force. The Stinger missile has limited range against current and emerging air threats, and industry has diminishing capability to sustain the current inventory and produce new materiel. The Marine Corps will be leveraging the US Army's efforts to pursue development of a new interceptor to replace the Stinger missile. The strategy is to provide an interceptor with improved target acquisition, range, and lethality against the evolving threat. Overall, Marine Corps Air Defense Weapons Systems decreases from FY 2025 to FY 2026 due to the completion of the MADIS Inc 1 Block 2 development and shift into production, completion of the MADIS Virtual Training System development, the completion of Initial Operational Test & Evaluation of the L-MADIS, and completion of the I-CsUAS Operational Test

Mission — MARINE CORPS AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS SYS source

This program element supports the Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion's missions of Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD), Medium Range Air Defense and provides the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to include; maneuver forces, bases, posts and stations, the necessary force protection to defeat the full spectrum of threats associated with the Marine Corps Low-Altitude Air Defense mission, to include hostile aerial threats from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). With the proliferation of both military and commercial UAS platforms, the program is pursuing and acquiring more lethal and survivable air defense weapon systems platforms, such as JLTV's with armored protection and better maneuverability than a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), providing increased Counter-UAS capabilities now and continually spiraling out increasing capability for the foreseeable future. The Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) will provide a capability to defend fixed and operationally fixed sites primarily against threat cruise missiles; secondarily against UAS and other aerial threats that enter the MRIC's Weapons Engagement Zone (WEZ). The system will be integrated into the Integrated Air Missile Defense (IAMD) Family of Systems (FoS) to facilitate a layered defense against aerial threats

Mission — Congressional Adds source

Home Alone is a portable Counter Unmanned Air System (C-UAS) platform that is capable of detecting, identifying and tracking UAS and Rotary Wing Aircraft. The system is comprised of three AI-enabled, passive, 360-degree automated threat detection and situational awareness IR sensors; a passive radar and a battle management system. MADIS Radar supports the Marine Corps Air Defense Weapons Systems that includes multiple Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Force Design priority items. It supports the Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion's mission of Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and provides the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to include; maneuver forces, bases, posts and stations, the necessary force protection to defeat the full spectrum of threats associated with the Marine Corps Low Altitude Air Defense mission, to include hostile aerial threats from Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and manned fixed wing/rotary wing aircraft. With the proliferation of both military and commercial UAS and platforms, the program is pursuing and acquiring more lethal and survivable air defense weapons systems platforms, such as JLTV's with armored protection and better maneuverability than a HMMWV, providing increased Counter-UAS (C-UAS) and FW/RW capabilities now and continually spiraling out increasing capability for the foreseeable future. The Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) is a CMC Force Design program providing the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force Commander a capability to defend forward deployed forces primarily against threat cruise missiles; secondarily against UAS and other aerial threats that enter the MRIC's Weapons Engagement Zone (WEZ). MRIC is designed as a system-of-systems and will be integrated with Marine Corps organic Command and Control (C2) and Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) architecture. The program will enhance the expeditionary force ground-based air defense (GBAD) capability to rapidly prosecute aerial threats and expand layered defense of the Expeditionary and Naval Forces. This effort informs the investment to meet the Force Design requirements to field an MRIC Battery to each of the three LAAD Battalions. High Powered Microwave C-UAS supports the assessment of technologies to counter swarms that can be integrated into the MADIS FoS. The MAGTF is at increased risk of lethal air attack and fires coordination from next generation aircraft as well as significant advances from small UAS threats due to their rapid development and proliferation by the commercial sector.

Mission — GBAD: Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) source

The Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) is a CMC Force Design program providing the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force Commander a capability to defend forward deployed forces primarily against threat cruise missiles; secondarily against UAS and other aerial threats that enter the MRIC's Weapons Engagement Zone (WEZ). MRIC is designed as a system-of-systems and will be integrated with Marine Corps organic Command and Control (C2) and Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) architecture. The program will enhance the expeditionary force ground-based air defense (GBAD) capability to rapidly prosecute aerial threats and expand layered defense of the Expeditionary and Naval Forces. The MRIC prototype firing exercises were completed 4Q FY 2022 and informed the decision point in 1Q FY2023 to certify for deployment. The certification efforts occurred FY 2023 through FY 2024 and led to a successful decision for prototype deployment 3Q FY 2025. This effort informs the investment to meet the Force Design requirements to field an MRIC Battery to each of the three LAAD Battalions. Increase from FY 2025 to FY 2026 for the completion of the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) software integration, initiation of prototype improvements, missile type qualification, and training requirements analysis.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)