Air and Missile Defense Advanced Technology

The Air and Missile Defense Advanced Technology program is focused on enhancing the Army's air and missile defense capabilities through research and development of advanced technologies. This initiative aligns with the Army's priority for modernizing air and missile defense by reducing costs, restoring overmatch, and improving survivability against volley-fire attacks. It supports operations in complex Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments and contested domains. Research is carried out by several Army entities, including the Army Futures Command, Space and Missile Defense Command, Engineer Research and Development Center, and the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.

A key project within this program is the Unconventional Countermeasures-Survivability Technology initiative. This project aims to develop integrated unconventional countermeasures to enhance the survivability of personnel and critical assets. It focuses on advancing technologies for signature management using novel materials, multispectral survivability enhancements, and intuitive decision support systems for non-kinetic protective measures. The goal is to demonstrate these technologies through prototype systems that reduce targetable signatures and confuse targeting systems.

Another important effort is the Weapons Components Advanced Technology project, which has received congressional interest to advance high energy laser (HEL) systems for various applications. This includes developing HEL systems for all-terrain vehicles, silicon carbide electronics, palletized counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS), and mobile force protection. The project also involves integrating a 300-kW class HEL weapon system for testing at White Sands Missile Range to support Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense.

The Optimized High Energy Laser Source Advanced Technology project aims to create a more affordable laser source for high energy laser weapon systems. This effort seeks to deliver a 50 kW-class laser subsystem with improved efficiency and reduced logistics requirements. It complements other directed energy initiatives within the Army, supporting future capability opportunities for leap-ahead technology in directed energy applications. Research is conducted in coordination with various Army entities to ensure alignment with modernization strategies and priority focus areas.