ROSE BARRACKS, Germany – Low, slow and small is the target of the latest U.S. Army capability, the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Mobile Integrated Capability, or CMIC, to touch down in Germany this month.
“The U.S. Army has witnessed drones as a threat in theatre,” said Maj. David C. Andrews, Fires Center of Excellence, C-UAS mobile capability lead. “Our enemies are adapting, and this capability is the leading system to detect and defeat that threat.”
As a System of Systems, the CMIC is a mounted non-kinetic capability that combines Electronic Warfare (EW), radar and optic capabilities to detect, identify and defeat UAS threats.
While the CMIC capability has been in development for three years, testing of its mobile integration onto two Stryker Vehicles took place last October. Now, for the first time, it is being implemented into a training environment with the 2d Cavalry Regiment.
2CR Field Artillery Squadron, as the proponent for the fielding, conducted new equipment training Feb. 27- March 30, 2017 at Grafenwoer Training Area, Rose Barracks, Germany. During the training staff identify capabilities, limitations and developed Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) for tactical employment during fielding.
“During training I have been able to work directly work with radar for the first time,” said Staff. Sgt. Matthew Braddock, Fire Support, FA 2CR. “I am able to pick up and track things I wouldn’t normally see with higher resolution and better clarity.”
Employed as the capability gap solution to an emerging threat, CMIC enables platforms equipped for tracking Field Artillery into UAV air traffic tracking platforms with a 360 degree-search sector.
“This is a different type of tracking,” said Spc. Cristian Garcia, FA Squadron, Target Acquisition Platoon, HHB, 2CR.
This training comes as an additional skill set for Soldiers who primary occupational specialty ranges from infantrymen, Electronic Warfare personnel and forward observers.
The complete integration of the C-UAS system, which utilizes two organic mounted Q-50 radars and along with the two CMIC Strykers, will be employed during Saber Junction 17 and continue to support ongoing missions within the ESAREUR theatre of operations.