The United States is testing a fighter drone to shoot down attacking drone swarms.
DARPA has shared a video of a recent demonstration of a system it is developing as part of its Mobile Force Protection program, or MFP. The demonstration tested a novel counter-drone concept that launches reusable interceptors that shoot what DARPA is calling “strong, stringy streamers” directly at adversary drones in order to foul their propulsion systems and cause them to fall from the sky. The system, as it exists now, is primarily intended to offer a way to protect convoys from small drones while avoiding or minimizing collateral damage by not using high-explosives to take down incoming threats.
Excellent!
This is what I called for in Army magazine several years ago. My view is that ground forces shouldn't be burdened by hauling around and using ground-based drone defense systems.
Having some for last ditch defense is fine. Ground troops have carried air defense missiles for last ditch defense against aircraft and helicopters. But defending against swarms need a combat air patrol that someone else controls, freeing the ground troops for their primary ground combat missions.
What I did not imagine was that the weapon to be fired would be sticky streamers. Brilliant! If it works. And if it works against swarms.
Of course, this isn't quite what I wanted because the unit to be protected--a convoy in this test--carries the launcher for the air defense drone.
And convoy CAP controlled by others would benefit convoys, too. Does the convoy have to halt to recover the reusable drones? If so, does that make the convoy vulnerable to artillery or ground attack?
But MFP is progress. Tip to Instapundit.
