Army Indirect Fire Protection System and New Guided Missile Program

[bring_it_on]

The Indirect Fire Protection Capability has several components. The Enduring IFPC (Increment 2) system is the kinetic interceptor portion of it and the most mature with 1-51 already beginning to take possession of its first systems. The IFPC-HEL, and IFPC-HPM are the Directed Energy portions with the HPM systems delivered to first platoon and HEL systems expected next year, Those both should be ready (if sucessfull) to transition to programs of record and production sometime in the 2027-2029 timeframe. MDAC is the latest element within IFPC but also its least mature so a lot will depend on what they develop and how it performs when they put the initial operational prototyping systems through their paces. You can expect it to be a couple of years behind the DE systems so probably a 2030 program transition if it shows promise. With US DOD's funding for Israeli Iron Beam funding outpacing US Army's IFPC-HEL and Navy HELIOS funding, I suspect at some point, Congress may wish to introduce the 100kW class Iron Beam to the IFPC mix as well.

 

[Cordy]

The IFPC HEL is as yet not a Program of Record, the CRS reports FY2025 budget request shows a reduction of $327 million from FY2024 budget plan to only $31.6 million for RDT&E and no procurement funding plan due to Army 'changing priorities', whereas Enduring Shield shows procurement of 44 systems for $658 million for the first installation in 2027 for Guam, so would think it very unlikely that even if HEL does go ahead it will be years before operational, we have seen the time DE M-SHORAD prototypes in development since 2019 and as yet no indication if it will be procured whereas M-SHORAD was fully operational in 2021 after 2018 contract award with 162 funded and talk of 312 or even 361 in total.

PS Re IFPC-HPM do you have any indication of range, understand very short e.g. one mile?

 

[bring_it_on]

The IFPC HEL is as yet not a Program of Record

Did I indicate that it was? I wrote:

IFPC-HEL, and IFPC-HPM are the Directed Energy portions with the HPM systems delivered to first platoon and HEL systems expected next year..Those both should be ready (if successful) to transition to programs of record and production sometime in the 2027-2029 timeframe.

That is consistent what the PEO and OEMs are saying and even with what the the Google-fu experts at CRS state in their reports (I think).

If you pay attention to what I wrote, you will see me making the point that since the Army is having to balance priorities and investments thus adversely impacting its IFPC-HEL plans, the Congress has kept steady investments into Iron Beam making it a little more likely to see it through to actual fielding in numbers (it is also less ambitious) which the Congress could then ask the Army to buy. Not too different to how the Army was forced to buy interim Iron Dome.

The rest of the points are comparing very different programs (DE-MSHORAD to MSHORAD and DE-MSHORAD to IFPC-HEL) with challenges, opportunities and technologies that share very little in common.

That MSHORAD was more mature and expected to be fielded in numbers 4-6 years ahead of anything on the DE MSHORAD side of the house is/was not exactly a secret. It was the plan so you are simply stating the obvious there. MSHORAD was integrating mature tech and a missile that has been in the Army inventory for decades. DE-MSHORAD and subsequent efforts (like MSHORAD Inc 3 which is the actual MSHORAD (Inc 1 was originally called IMSHORAD and Inc 4) are simply at a different technology maturity curve and thus require more time to develop, operationally prototype, learn from those efforts and transition to broader acquisition. Sequencing these over the course of a decade is both prudent from "develop and mature the tech" side of the house and also the budgetary stand point.

PS Re IFPC-HPM do you have any indication of range, understand very short e.g. one mile?

Range depends on type of target, and the number of systems devoted to a particular sector and the actual system being chosen. Leonidas is a very scalable system (ExDECS will field the smaller maneuver oriented array and they've already shown a podded system that can extend the range of ground based systems) and HPM effects can be concentrated and are cumulative. Army's directive currently focuses on the inner-most layer (FPF) of its indirect fires protection capability to be HPM. If it choses to extend that to other layers, solutions will be presented to it by Epirus and others. Air Force will take delivery of Defend soon which has those requirements for air-base protection. That will have longer range and more challenging targets (cruise missiles). Army right now does not have that plan. They have the outermost kinetic layer, a HEL layer inside of that, and HPM as its innermost layer. That can all change as they play around and learn from systems.

 

[Cordy]

Thanks for your input but would mention that as I'm sure you already know CRS is reporting that the Army has currently budgeted to eliminate IFPC HEL funding in FY2026, which does not appear compatible with what said you said your hearing from PEO and OEM.

 

[bring_it_on]

Thanks for your input but would mention that as I'm sure you already know CRS is reporting that the Army has currently budgeted to eliminate IFPC HEL funding in FY2026, which does not appear compatible with what said you said your hearing from PEO and OEM.

On IFPC-HEL, the Army has cut down money on its prototyping effort and has removed production funds planned until it knows how effective the systems are based on the first units experience with the first two systems.

How is that inconsistent with:

Those both should be ready (if successful) to transition to programs of record and production sometime in the 2027-2029 timeframe.

Until the Army knows what it wants based on hands on experience, it cannot program funds into the FYDP. When it does, it will. It is that simple.

The first platoon has IFPC-HMP in hand and is probably going to deploy at least half of the systems to theater before the end of the year. DE-MSHORAD is deployed already as an operational prototype. All these things will be well tested (by operational prototyping standards) by 2027-2029 which is when some of them may be able to transition to a program. Army has said they will wait till they get some operational prototyping test data before making a decision hence zero'd out funding until that is available possibly adding 1-2 years to each of those efforts (thus 2027-2029). Epirus on its part thinks that they can get into LRIP production by around 2026 if they committ to it asap or around 2027-2028 if they take their time to evaluate the operational prototypes and continue that program for a while longer.

PSA: I am positive the CRS reports don't include anything that can't be obtained from 30 minutes of google but its worth checking in what others might have to say especially those running these programs.

 

[Cordy]

Until the Army knows what it wants based on hands on experience, it cannot program funds into the FYDP. When it does, it will. It is that simple.

My understanding is that is exactly what he Army did in prior years before this year for FY2025 budget when they cut $4.8 billion from planned future IFPC HEL spending

DE-MSHORAD is deployed already as an operational prototype. All these things will be well tested (by operational prototyping standards) by 2027-2029 which is when some of them may be able to transition to a program.

Would note the Army did carry out operational tests with the four prototypes earlier this year in the Middle East and was disappointed in the results and its currently an open question if the Army will continue invest more money into the DE M-SHORAD or if they have decided to cut their losses and perhaps why made the decision to fund the hypervelocity HGWS.

PSA: I am positive the CRS reports don't include anything that can't be obtained from 30 minutes of google but its worth checking in what others might have to say especially those running these programs.

I have more faith in the CRS experienced army specialist writer Andrew Feickert than it appears you do though can understand your view.

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820791941119815935

View: https://x.com/northropgrumman/status/1820791941119815935

 

[bring_it_on]

My understanding is that is exactly what he Army did in prior years before this year for FY2025 budget when they cut $4.8 billion from planned future IFPC HEL spending

Which is consistent with the Army saying that they will be evaluating and these upcoming evaluations will determine future resourcing. Which is exactly what I wrote in that if they like what they see IFPC HEL and HPM should move to a PoR around 2027-2029. It is also consistent with what industry has publicly indicated. You can wait till a CRS reporter sources these things and puts it on paper to believe it. That's your choice.

Would note the Army did carry out operational tests with the four prototypes earlier this year in the Middle East and was disappointed in the results and its currently an open question if the Army will continue invest more money into the DE M-SHORAD or if they have decided to cut their losses and perhaps why made the decision to fund the hypervelocity HGWS.

Army did not conduct testing in the ME (DEMSHORAD prototypes were put through phases of testing and exercises at Yuma). It conducted an operational deployment of the prototypes there. With very early stage systems and users that lacked mature and well developed manuals, doctrine or experience. Operational prototypes are inherently 60-70% solutions and that experience will lead the Army to its requirements for the PoR transition.

Right now, there are deliberations in the program office on whether 20-30kW is the sweet spot for a mobile system or whether 50kW is the way to go and the Army is prototyping a 20kW (scalable to 30kW) system and integrating on JLTV to further inform these efforts. The 50kW DE requirement could potentially move to a fixed system though as I have written, current experiences will inform this which is exactly why I am putting a 2027-2029 timeframe around it contingent on a whole host of factors including program success, budgets and political decisions.

I have more faith in the CRS experienced army specialist writer Andrew Feickert than it appears you do though can understand your view.

Problem isn't your faith in Andrew F. Its not chasing down a primary source and se what they have had to say. Just because CRS hasn't covered it or overlooked it..or didn't bother on covering certain things doesn't mean those things didn't happen or should be ignored or there are not nuances about the program that the CRS fails to capture (for whatever reason).

I would advise that you read what I wrote again and again until it becomes clear that I did in no way indicate that IFPC-HPM and IFPC-HEL were programs of record because you seem to have taken that as something as I said or perhaps you just decided to build a strawman..Either way..they are not PoR. All I said was that the could be in the 2027-29 timeframe based on progress that the program has indicated in its recent public interactions or what industry has communicated. You can go ask the CRS folks to speak to industry or ask the program office and neither would find that assertion remotely controversial. A lot of this will be informed by testing that is occuring and that will occur over the next year and a half.

 

[Cordy]

The MDACS part of Army effort for a lower cost anti CM and UAS capability than IFPC DEW​

Senate appropriators scrutinize Army's new-start Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System​

Inside Defense Dan Schere / August 6, 2024

The Senate Appropriations Committee does not believe the Army's new Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System effort should be funded in fiscal year 2025, pointing to what lawmakers believe is a flawed acquisition strategy for that program and the Strategic Capabilities Office's Hypervelocity Gun Weapon System -- a similar program with overlapping capabilities. The Army had included nearly $67 million in research, development, test and evaluation funding for MDACS in FY-25, and last month the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies office began...

 

[Forest Green]

Industry lining up to produce new supersonic cruise missile interceptor under Army IFPC program - Breaking Defense

Anduril is looking to compete as a prime contractor and subcontractor, while Boeing eyes plan to form its team.

breakingdefense.com

Tiny Jets Masquerading As Cruise Missiles Featured In Michigan Airpower Exercise

Tiny and nimble microjets are playing an important role in mimicking cruise missile and drone threats, including those to the homeland.

www.twz.com

MDA task force to examine new threats, like hybrid air-missile tactics: Chief - Breaking Defense

"Missions are ramming into each other, overlapping each other. The integration challenge is large," Lt. Gen. Heath Collins said. "[S]ilos exist between services, between entities within the services, between MDA."

breakingdefense.com

 

[bobbymike]

Army to test hypervelocity projectile for 155mm cannon artillery

The Army will spend roughly three years studying the physics of shooting the hypervelocity projectile from 155mm cannons.

www.defensenews.com