After three decades without a significant air threat, the Army has realized they might actually need a surface to air weapon. As a result they have embarked on a program to provide Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) against cruise missiles as well as manned aircraft. In addition they want to provide protection from rockets, artillery, and mortars (RAM) and Unmanned Air Systems (UAS), hopefully in the same launcher. The program of record is called Integrated Fire Protection Capability.
They have already built a launcher in house.
Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) firing
(IFPC, “Indirect Fire Protection Capability”) Launching Hellfire missile
This Multi-Mission Launcher somewhat emulates the Mk41 VLS, in that it is intended to launch several different missiles for different purposes. It has launched AIM-9 Sidewinder (repurposed as an surface to air missile) , the Tamir (interceptor for the Israeli Iron Dome system), the Lockheed Miniature Hit to Kill (MHTK) Missile, an Army developed missile, and the Hellfire.
The Miniature Hit to Kill (MHTK) missile designed to counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (RAM) threats as well as some unmanned aircraft might be use against projectiles fired at a cutter or an asset we are protecting. Cost is only about $16K per round.
“The missile is 27 inches long, two inches in diameter (actually only 40mm or 1.6″–Chuck) and weighs 5 pounds “at launch,” he added. The semi-active missile has no warhead, using kinetic energy — or thrust — instead to take out a target. “It’s really a bullet hitting a bullet,” which is the bread and butter capability in Lockheed’s missile technology. One launcher can fit 36 of the missiles, Delgado said, and two launchers can fit onto a single truck.”
As a very small system, MKTK can be quad-packed. Photo: Defense-Update
The Navy is apparently showing some interest in this program. Since the Army developed multi-mission launcher is not a vertical launch system I presume it has to be pointed. This is somewhat complicates installation, but I can’t help but believe something, launcher or interceptors, will come out of this program that may be of interest to the Coast Guard in the future.
Late Addition:
Photo: Multipurpose remote weapon station chosen for the Striker Short Range Air Defense System. Moog Reconfigurable Integrated-Weapons Platform (RiwP) turret:: 4 Stinger missiles on one side, two Hellfires on the other, with a 30 mm autocannon and coaxial 7.62 mm machinegun in between (Leonardo DRS)
Would this happen to be the Raytheon AI3 Missile, a “Mini Me” version of the AIM-9M…
The Accelerated Improved Interceptor Initiative (AI3) is one of the missiles. From what I have seen, the AI3 is a remanufactured Sidewinder with a semi-active FR seeker replacing the IR seeker normally used on Sidewinders. That would allow it to go after relatively cool RAM targets like artillery shells and probably bombs.
I wondered when the Army would get on this. In spite of its claimed successes, there are serious disadvantages to “CIWS Ashore.”
The US Army already is! The US Army have modified AN/TWQ-1 “Avengers” using Raytheon AI3 Interceptors instead of “Stinger” Missiles mounted on the back of a Humvee. Future applications include a Stryker MSL…
The Army is moving rapidly on this, but they have a long way to go, before they have enough to provide a credible defense.
That also “Hold True” with the US Navy’s conversions of Littoral Combat Ships with AN/AGM-114L “Longbow Hellfire” missiles…
US Army has teamed up with Leonardo DRS, to mount a SHORAD and M230 30x113mm Chain Gun to a Stryker. ( http://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/06/28/us-armys-interim-short-range-air-defense-solutions-crystallizes ) …
As Secundius tried to tell us, the Army has selected a Leonardo system as their interim “Maneuver Short Range Air Defense System” that will incorporate Stinger surface to air missile, Hellfire, the 30mm M230 chain gun, a 7.62 mm machine gun in a single mount and a radar fire control system and soft kill system in a single mount. .
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/06/28/us-armys-interim-short-range-air-defense-solution-crystallizes/
More detail and a nice photo of the Stryker short range air defense turret here. https://breakingdefense.com/2018/07/army-anti-aircraft-stryker-can-kill-tanks-too/?_ga=2.221091096.125601813.1531219104-233619353.1531219104
I added the photo as a late addition to the original post.
Autocannon is a M230 30×113 Chain Gun, not the Mk.44 30×173 Bushmaster! There’s an ~288-pound weight difference between the Two Chain Guns…
The problem is that your so versatile you can not do your main job. You would be better off building a modern day LAV-25AD.
http://tanknutdave.com/the-us-lav-25/
https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/lav-ad.htm
should have said jack of all trades, master of none.
The first short range air defense systems remote weapon stations incorporating Hellfire, Stinger air defense missile, and a 30mm gun on a Stryker wheeled armored vehicle are being delivered to the Army. https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/future-weapons/general-dynamics-unveils-new-missile-armed-stryker-zFIgmOzD60mXZAFwwbWUMA/
Such a versatile mount might be a good fit for Coast Guard use.
you can see the SHORAD vehicle and weapon system here. https://www.defensenews.com/video/2019/10/15/get-a-look-at-the-armys-new-mobile-short-range-air-defense-vehicle/
“Army’s interim short-range air defense system on track despite minor ‘hiccup’ in tests”
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/smd/2020/08/05/armys-interim-short-range-air-defense-system-on-track-despite-minor-hiccup-in-tests/