The US Army is working on a prototype that could see a marked step up in the evolution of Long Range Fires and Air & Missile Defence. ⬇️
For many years the US Army has been experimenting with an Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (AML). The AML prototype was derived from a HIMARS launcher but introduced autonomous driving features and automated firing. Now Defense News is reporting that the US Army likes what is sees with AML but wants more – more automation, more flexibility to fire a range of munitions:
“So specifically, what we want to develop is a common launcher … that is both offensive and defensive capable. We want a common fire control system so that any nation can use that fire control system… Then obviously, we want everything to be optionally manned. If we look out for an air defense system or a long-range fire system, we want it to be one system, optionally manned, where we’ll be able to take munitions from any country and shoot through them.”
What is evolutionary is that the US Army is seeking for this launcher to have the flexibility to fire a range of munitions – not just locked in to a particular Prime’s product. But in addition the CAML is seeking to be both offensive and defensive. The US Army has achieved this feature in the ‘Typhon’ Mid Range Capability but wants a system that is more deployable, manoeuvrable and less manpower intensive – fit for purpose for the Indo Pacific littoral.
A CAML could provide a mix of Long Range Fires and Air & Missile Defence from the same Battery equipped with the same launcher. Automating driving and crew responsibilities reducing the need for manpower and increasing potential time in action. Extending the capacity and capability of a current Battery’s manning to the equivalent of a Regiment or greater.
Could Australia’s new Medium range Ground Based Air Defence instead be a multi-use Long Range Fires and Air & Missile Defence asset with significantly reduced manning requirements? How about the capacity to fire munitions made and designed in Australia? Plenty of food for thought – autonomous, flexible and fearsomely capable – certainly could be a key deterrent to add to the order of battle!
We’ll add a link in the comments to the Defense News article and also a short read from The War Zone outlining a range of autonomous options already being showcased.
📷 via US Army of the AMLT prototype built from a HIMARS launcher.