Ground Based Air Defense

Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) is an initiative by the Navy aimed at enhancing the air defense capabilities of the Marine Corps. It includes several key components such as the Marine Air Defense Integrated System Family of Systems (MADIS FoS), Installations-Counter Small Unmanned Air Systems (I-CsUAS), and Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC). These efforts focus on modernizing and expanding ground-based air defense systems to protect critical assets from various aerial threats, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as unmanned aircraft systems.

The MADIS FoS provides a mobile, expeditionary short-range air defense capability for Marine units. It integrates advanced technologies onto Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to counter threats from unmanned aircraft systems and other aerial platforms. The program includes both kinetic and non-kinetic solutions, ensuring that Marine forces can effectively engage and neutralize threats in diverse operational environments. This system is crucial for supporting operations like Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE) and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO).

I-CsUAS focuses on safeguarding USMC installations from small unmanned aerial system threats. This component is particularly important for protecting critical infrastructure both within the continental United States and overseas. The program involves procuring systems that can detect, track, identify, and defeat small UAS threats at various installations. I-CsUAS has transitioned from an urgent need to a formal program of record, with plans to replace existing capabilities at several sites.

The MRIC element addresses medium-range threats such as cruise missiles. It provides an integrated system-of-systems approach that enhances the Marine Corps' ability to defend against complex aerial threats. MRIC incorporates missile launchers, intercept missiles, and command-and-control systems that work in conjunction with existing radar technologies for comprehensive threat detection and engagement. This capability is set to be fielded across multiple battalions in the coming years, significantly bolstering the Marine Corps' air defense posture.