The Russia-Ukraine conflict has made the world increasingly aware of the importance of air defense, and the U.S. Army is no exception. It plans to start producing the second-generation Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) system in early 2026, with expected deployment by mid-2027. The U.S. Army pointed out that the Russia-Ukraine conflict demonstrates that the widespread use of loitering munitions, cruise missiles, long-range rocket projectiles, and drones makes critical infrastructure vulnerable to continuous aerial threats, and it is necessary to strengthen air defense capabilities.
The core of IFPC is the "Sentinel" A4 radar developed by Lockheed Martin, which can detect and identify various aerial targets, including drones. Connected through the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), it can link sensors and weapon systems across multiple operational domains.
The IFPC's launch system uses a high-mobility military truck as its chassis, with a newly developed modular multi-purpose launcher mounted at the rear, capable of launching AIM-9X "Sidewinder" air defense missiles or the "Tamir" air defense missiles from Israel's Iron Dome system.
IFPC will fill the gap between the U.S. Army's "Avenger" and mobile short-range air defense systems and the "Patriot" and "THAAD" systems, specifically designed to protect key military facilities, including military bases, command centers, and logistics hubs.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836356035281948/
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