The Army recognizes the need to fight cheap drones with cheap ammunition.
Interesting:
The Army is in the initial stages of testing new, specialized bullets to shoot down small drones, Army officials said on Monday. The service is developing both 30mm and 25mm rounds to be carried by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, both of which the Army views as a primary system for protecting troops from future drone threats.
I have questions. First, this sounds promising. But questions remain.
Does the Bradley round (BADGER) mean that in the future, the Bradley will be used exclusively for this mission as a new infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) enters the Army and replaces Bradleys in the IFV role? Or does this a means to test the ability to include this capability on the new IFV?
I'd guess the former because I'd think that modified active protection systems designed to cope with FPV drones attacking from above would provide vehicle protection. Unless a single future IFV in a platoon would have the longer-range capability the Bradley is testing; or perhaps a platoon of them at the company level parceled out.
Second, does the Apache round (APEX) reflect that the Army wants a safer mission over friendly forces as a combat air patrol because it is too dangerous for helicopters to carry out missions close to enemy air defenses--including suicide drones that target them? If so the already built helicopters could be seen as a bridge until fighter drones protect our troops from other drones are developed, as I called for some years ago in Army magazine.
Third, will directed-energy weapons end the drone mystique?
Small drones have an edge now. But counter-measures are coming. I think drones will simply become part of a complete combined arms operation.
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NOTE: The image is drawn from my old DALL-E 3 stockpile.
