The U.S. Army successfully fired a Stinger missile from its newest launch platform last week. The test that took place at Eglin test range on March 23, 2016 was part of a demonstration of the Army’s new Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC Inc 2-I) platform’s Multi-Mission Launcher (MML). The launcher consists of fifteen tubes, each of which can hold either a single large interceptor or multiple smaller interceptors.
The IFPC Inc 2-I system is a mobile ground-based weapon system designed to defeat unmanned aircraft systems, cruise missiles, and rockets, artillery, and mortars.
This new launcher 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 MML. The Army plans to test fire a variety missiles as part of an IFPC Inc 2-I Engineering Demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in the coming weeks.
The MML is mounted on a medium tactical vehicle. The launcher can rotate 360 degrees and elevate from 0-90 degrees. Developed using an open systems architecture, the launcher will interface to the IBCS Engagement Operations Center to support and coordinate target engagements.
In addition to the MML, the IFPC Inc 2-I System will use the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) 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.
The U.S. Army successfully fired three missiles to verify tube integrity and missile stack integration of the Multi-Mission Launcher using a Launch Demonstration Unit. Photo: US Army
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