17 August 2020: The US Army successfully engaged multiple targets during a flight test using the Northrop Grumman Corporation Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The test, conducted as part of the IBCS Limited User Test (LUT), demonstrated IBCS’ ability to maintain continuous track custody of the targets, despite contested environment conditions, by fusing data from multiple sensors.
“We are extremely pleased with how IBCS performed during this flight test,” said Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman. “We have been working on an extraordinary command and control system in partnership with the US Army, and our goals are the same to get this capability into the hands of the war fighter as soon as possible.”
The first of two planned operational flight tests was conducted at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico by the soldiers from the US Army 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defence Artillery (ADA) Regiment. The test’s defence laydown included an Air and Missile Defence task force including two Battery and 1 Battalion engagement operations centres, two Patriot and Sentinel radars, and three Patriot Advanced Capability Three (PAC-3) launchers connected at the component level, to the IBCS Integrated Fire Control Network (IFCN).
The test began when two cruise missile surrogate threats were launched and flew at a low altitude in a manoeuvring formation through a mountain range towards defended assets. IBCS fused real-time data from all sensors into a single, accurate composite track for each threat. The soldiers were presented with engagement solutions computed by IBCS which were then executed. The soldiers launched two PAC-3 missiles controlled by IBCS that successfully intercepted both threats. IBCS was able to perform all functions successfully despite being subjected to contested environment conditions designed to disrupt the IFCN network, demonstrating the resilience and survivability of the system.
The Limited User Test, which comprises several tests, is intended to simulate realistic war fighting operations and place performance stresses on the systems to ensure it will perform as intended under the most rigorous circumstances once deployed. This LUT is conducted to inform a Milestone C decision which will transition the IBCS program into the production and operational testing phase.
IBCS utilizes multiple sensors and effectors to extend the battle space, engage threats providing 360° protection, increases survivability by enabling early detection, continuous tracking and delivers transformational war fighting capabilities to defeat an increasingly complex threat.
