US Army wants a more powerful rocket for its medium range IFPC Increment 2

The Pentagon believes that the new complex should fill the gap between Patriot and Thaad air defense systems. To do this, he must have rockets on new fuel so that they can affect the targets at great distances. The US Army plans to modernize its medium -range air defense system to increase its effectiveness in the fight against Chinese winged missiles.

This was stated by the main rocket purchasing for the army, the brigade General Frank Lozano, during an event organized by the CSIS Analytical Center on July 30, Defense One reports. Lozano reported that in the 2025 financial year, the army would hold a new rocket competition that will run from the so -called Indirect Fire Protection Capability System or IFPC protection system.

This system is designed to defeat a wide range of targets - from drones to winged missiles - and must fill the gap between Patriot and Thaad air defense systems. The current version of IFPC includes 18 low-range anti-aircraft missiles AIM-9x Sidewinder on a single starting unit. However, Lozano stressed that the army needs a more powerful rocket similar to the AIM-20d ​​AMRAAM.

The problem is that the AMraam launcher contains only six rockets, and the recharge takes 45 minutes, which makes it ineffective in intensive combat. The IFPC Increment 2 has to get rockets on new fuel so that the interceptors can affect targets at greater distances and move faster. In addition, the official added, the armies need more advanced guidance systems to combat high -speed threats such as hypersonic winged missiles.

"It is necessary to have a fire control system that can adjust the action on the fly, depending on what threats arise and then in real time to make a solution for operators," Lozano said. The observers have noted that IFPC Increment 2 tests are successful, and integrated tests with the participation of combat management, Patriot missiles, LTMADS, IFPC radar and Sentinel A4 radar are planned for the fall.

According to brigade General Patrick Kostollo, a comprehensive air defense system, which includes Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Patriot missiles, is also required because of a limited number of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. According to him, current requests of commands around the world for protection against different threats will "absorb all 15 battalions of Patriot, which we have. " Earlier it was reported that Ukraine has created an effective UAV detection system.