The U.S. Army successfully fired a Stinger missile from its newest launch platform, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on March 23. The missile was fired as part of a demonstration of the Army’s new Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept platform’s multi-mission launcher.
The new, first-of-its-kind, MML is designed to fire a variety of different interceptor missiles, depending on the threat. Stinger, originally developed as a man-portable air defense infrared homing surface-to-air missile, has been adapted to fire from a wide variety of ground vehicles, such as the IFPC MML. A variety of other missiles are scheduled to be tested as part of the platform’s engineering demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in the coming weeks.
Almost a dozen missiles were test-fired during the Army’s time spent on Eglin’s ranges. The Army’s Stinger Based Systems team also used Eglin’s ranges when they tested the shoulder-firing Stinger set-up in 2014. The relationship between the testing agencies continues to grow with each new visit.
“We’re very excited about being back here and appreciate the Eglin community for what we are trying to accomplish,” said Col. Terrence Howard, the Army’s project manager for the Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office. “They are helping us be a game-changer for the Army in providing this new capability. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this effort.”
The Army’s new platform is a mobile ground-based weapon system designed to defeat unmanned aircraft systems, cruise missiles, and rockets, artillery, and mortars. In addition to the MML, the IFPC will use the integrated air and missile defense battle command system for its command and control, a Sentinel radar, and existing interceptors to provide 360-degree protection with the ability to engage simultaneous threats arriving from different azimuths.
Photo: Air Force photograph by Samuel King Jr.
Source: Aerotech News