MARINE CORPS AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS SYSTEMS

The Marine Corps Air Defense Weapons System program element is focused on developing, testing, and fielding advanced air defense capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps. Its primary objective is to provide the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), including maneuver forces, bases, and installations, with robust force protection against a full spectrum of aerial threats. This includes countering unmanned aerial systems (UAS), cruise missiles, and both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The program supports the Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion's missions of Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and Medium Range Air Defense, with a particular emphasis on addressing the increasing threat posed by the proliferation of military and commercial UAS platforms.

Air Defense Weapons System encompasses several key initiatives, including the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Family of Systems (FoS), the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (L-MADIS), the Installations-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System (I-CsUAS), and the Next Generation Short Range Intercept (NGSRI) program. The goals for MADIS are to replace legacy A-MANPADS systems with JLTV-mounted platforms that integrate both kinetic and non-kinetic counter-UAS and air defense capabilities. The program is structured in increments, with Block 1 focusing on initial capability and Block 2 introducing enhanced lethality and counter-swarm technologies. L-MADIS, mounted on Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicles, is designed for expeditionary operations and provides mobile, on-the-move counter-UAS and air defense capabilities.

The I-CsUAS project is dedicated to protecting critical Marine Corps installations from small UAS threats, primarily commercial-off-the-shelf systems (Group 1-3). This system is being transitioned from a service-based urgent operational need to a program of record, with the intent to procure and field systems to both existing and new locations. The Next Generation Short Range Intercept (NGSRI) effort is a collaborative initiative with the U.S. Army to develop a replacement for the aging Stinger missile, aiming to provide improved acquisition, range, and lethality against evolving air threats.

GBAD: Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) is a critical component of the Marine Corps' layered air defense strategy. MRIC is designed to defend forward-deployed forces primarily against cruise missiles and secondarily against UAS and other aerial threats. The system is being integrated with Marine Corps command and control (C2) and the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) architecture. Objectives include completing G/ATOR radar software integration, initiating prototype improvements for launcher mobility and ammunition handling, qualifying missile types, and conducting training requirements analysis. MRIC is being fielded to each of the three LAAD Battalions to support Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO).

Congressional Adds provide targeted funding for specific technology demonstrations and enhancements. These include the evaluation of MADIS radar capabilities, the assessment and integration of High Powered Microwave (HPM) technologies for counter-UAS applications, and support for the Home Alone portable C-UAS platform. The HPM initiative seeks to evaluate and test the feasibility of integrating high-powered microwave systems into the MADIS FoS to counter UAS swarms within existing size, weight, and power constraints. These congressional adds are intended to accelerate the development and fielding of advanced counter-UAS and air defense technologies.

Across all projects, the program emphasizes continuous improvement through engineering change proposals, software and hardware upgrades, and rigorous developmental and operational testing. The acquisition strategy leverages rapid prototyping, collaboration with other services (notably the Army for NGSRI), and partnerships with industry and international allies (such as the Israeli Ministry of Defense for MRIC). The program's objectives are aligned with the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Force Design priorities, ensuring that Marine forces remain protected and operationally effective in the face of rapidly evolving aerial threats.