Category Archives: cUAS

Invariant’s Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement (STAKE) system–Maybe Something the Coast Guard Needs

Posted on by
Reply

TSUNAMI USV fitted with STAKE (Invariant Technologies picture) The launcher is probably only a little longer than the APKWS guided rocket which is 73.8 in (1.87 m) in length so I would estimate this boat is about 24 feet in length. Textron TSUNAMI® USVs range in length from 21 to 38 feet in length.

The need to have a counter to unmanned air and surface systems has been getting a lot of attention lately. Even the Coast Guard has been questioned about this.

The Coast Guard says they are working on it.

So far the counters I have heard the Coast Guard is deploying seem to be primarily intended to interrupt the control link of small commercial drones. Other than machine guns, I haven’t seen any hard kill systems that can deal with larger UASs and USVs including those that might be autonomous.

Potential targets range from consumer drones with a few ounces of explosives to modified personal watercraft or even general aviation aircraft carrying hundreds of pounds.

Using something like a .50 caliber machine gun in a US port is problematic both in terms of accuracy and in the danger of potential collateral damage.

Below are two press releases from Invariant discussing their APKWS based cUAS system, similar to the Vampire system.

From the moment I first saw APKWS, in 2017, I considered it an almost perfect weapon for the Coast Guard because it is cheap enough for wide distribution; it is accurate enough to minimize the likelihood of collateral damage, it has adequate range so that cutters don’t have to be so close improvised armaments can pick off our weapons operators, it is light enough to fit on even the smallest cutters, training requirements appear minimal, and the warhead is large enough to do serious damage to larger targets particularly if multiple hits are made.

invariant corporation’s stake system successfully demonstrates advanced maritime autonomous capability

Feb 18, 2026

(HUNTSVILLE, Ala.) Invariant Corporation’s Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement (STAKE) system has once again demonstrated a significant advancement in autonomous maritime Counter Unmanned Systems (C-UxS) capabilities. Earlier this month, STAKE was integrated onto a Textron Systems’ TSUNAMIR Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) and performed early integration testing at Lake Guntersville.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in the application of APKWS in the maritime domain. The success of the demonstration highlights the STAKE system’s versatility and performance in a highly dynamic, complex environment as well as Invariant’s C-UxS team’s commitment to advancing autonomous weapons development. STAKE, a modular system, can be integrated onto a variety of vehicles with minimal engineering.

STAKE’s maritime payloads consist of two core subsystems: the Hunter, which houses the sensor and laser designation package responsible for acquiring and tracking targets, and the Killer, the precision engagement platform. Together, as previously shown, the Hunter and Killer subsystems operate seamlessly in the maritime setting, confirming the system’s readiness for shipboard C-UxS mission, no matter the size.

“This successful demonstration represents a significant development and reflects Invariant’s position at the forefront of C-UxS innovation as well as kinetic maritime autonomy,” says President Danny Levis. “We are committed to advancing adaptable, high-performance systems that align with the Department of War’s objective to enhance lethality, especially in the maritime domain”.

The TSUNAMI USV provides advanced battlefield connectivity and mission agility to maritime mission sets while keeping warfighters out of harm’s way. With a MOSA design, the system is adaptable to a variety of mission sets and payload integrations. The TSUNAMI family of USVs benefit from over four decades of Textron Systems’ autonomous technology development and integration.
With this milestone, the STAKE team shows that its technology goes beyond computer models. Invariant is committed to not only supporting the fight where it is today, but advancing technology to be where the fight is going.

For more information about Invariant Corporation, visit www.invariant-corp.com.

The New Rules of Engagement: STAKE, C-UAS Agility, and the Future Fight

Aug 26, 2025

The unmanned threat landscape is advancing at breakneck speed. For James Filley, Program Manager for Invariant’s STAKE system, this shift is about rethinking how we design, deploy, and adapt kinetic solutions to meet a battlefield that changes by the day. 

With a career spanning in explosives, missile defense, and tactical ground systems, James made the deliberate choice to go deep, not wide. “I wanted to zero in on a single domain and become the expert,” he says. That domain? Counter-Unmanned Systems (C-UxS). 

Why STAKE Matters Now 
STAKE was born from the proven success of the Containerized Weapon System-APKWS (CWS-A,) but James sees its mobile platform as a major leap forward. “Every system has a use case,” he explains. “The container is great for fixed sites, but with STAKE, users get expeditionary capability. It goes where the fight is.” 
STAKE System

 

Whether mounted on a Humvee or ship deck, STAKE offers battlefield-ready C-UxS capability at a fraction of the cost and without locking users into rigid architecture. “You can bring your own C2, radar, or vehicle. We’ll integrate with it.” 
That flexibility was on full display during a recent shipboard demonstration, which James describes simply as proof of how modular and adaptable STAKE really is. 
The Threat Has Changed, So Must We 
According to James, today’s unmanned systems barely resemble what we saw eight years ago. “The change is like comparing the original telephone to a smartphone,” he says. “We’re no longer just dealing with off-the-shelf drones. Threat actors are now building custom, low-cost, high-lethality platforms at speed.” 
Those platforms aren’t just harder to counter—they’re cheaper and faster to produce. That’s why James sees cost parity as mission-critical. “How do we continuously defeat $100,000 drones without launching $1 million missiles?” 
It’s a real question with real consequences. “The defense side has always leaned toward exquisite systems,” he adds. “But the offense only needs to be good enough. That dynamic breaks our supply chains if we’re not smart.” 

Agility Over Legacy

For James, the most dangerous assumption in modern defense planning is that yesterday’s acquisition timelines still apply. “We used to develop a system over five years and support it for 20. But when the fight changes daily, our tech has to change daily too.” 

This is where STAKE shines. Its modular design, rapid fielding, and compatibility with cost-effective munitions like APKWS give it a major edge, not just in performance, but in sustainability.  

 “We’re not just building a product,” James says. “We’re building a process that evolves with the fight.”

C-UxS as a Forever Fight 

Unmanned systems are the new norm. From land to sea, in peer and non-peer engagements alike, James sees the domain expanding rapidly. “The future fight is unmanned, and that means C-UxS isn’t going anywhere,” he says. “At Invariant, we’re focused on what warfighters actually need. Not five years from now. Now.” 

 What’s Next for STAKE 

With interest growing across multiple services, James and his team continue to adapt STAKE to meet emerging demands. New capability insertions. Faster integration. Expanded CONOPS. STAKE represents our commitment to delivering battlefield-ready systems that are agile, adaptable, and built for the modern warfighter. 

“Wash the Sky Clean of Drones” –USNI

Posted on by
2

Powerful shipboard firefighting monitors can operate with flow rates in the vicinity of 16,000 gallons per minute, generating nozzle pressures and forces capable of knocking down or destroying drones with seawater. SHUTTERSTOCK

Captain Karl Flynn, U.S. Marine Corps, offers a novel counter to small drones,

It is well established that unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and vehicles (UAVs) are cheap, ubiquitous, and deadly against ground forces. While U.S. Navy ships and aircraft have proven themselves effective at shooting them down in the Red Sea, unmanned aircraft could soon become more dangerous in multiple environments: busy ports, canals, straits, the littorals, and other choke points. The Navy should explore using high-powered water cannons—also known as firefighting monitors—as ship-based counter-UAS (cUAS) weapons.

Now, I don’t think this would work against anything, but the small First Person Video drones that are now extremely common, but that is what the Coast Guard is most likely to encounter. At close range, water under high pressure can be damaging, but it’s not likely to cause collateral damage, like firearms could.

There are, of course, other reasons we might want to have powerful fire monitors.

SAN DIEGO (July 12, 2020) The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on fire at Naval Base San Diego, California (USA), on 12 July 2020. On the morning of 12 July, a fire was called away aboard the ship while it was moored pier side at Naval Base San Diego. Base and shipboard firefighters responded to the fire. Bonhomme Richard was going through a maintenance availability, which began in 2018. The fire was extinguished on 16 July.

They can also be used in less than lethal confrontations.

Screengrab from Philippine Coast Guard shows a Philippine vessel being water cannoned by the China Coast Guard on April 30, 2024.

They have become a regular feature of Gray Zone activities in the Western Pacific.

A water cannon battle between Taiwanese and Japanese Coast Guard vessels.

Frankly, what we have now looks kind of wimpy by comparison.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche and Japan Coast Guard vessel JCGC Wakasa (PL-93) test their water cannons during a trilateral search and rescue exercise in the East Sea, June 6, 2024. Coast Guardsmen from Japan, Republic of Korea and the United States used the trilateral training as an opportunity to rehearse cohesion between the nations when operating together. The U.S. Coast Guard has operated in the Indo-Pacific for more than 150 years, and the service is increasing efforts through targeted patrols with our National Security Cutters, Fast Response Cutters and other activities in support of Coast Guard missions to enhance our partnership. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elijah Murphy)

Precision Guided 70mm Rockets–APKWS and LOGIR, Poniard Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket

Posted on by
4

Couach 2200FPB Fast Patrol Boat. 12 being built for Royal Saudi Navy, armed with multiple rocket launchers by LIG Nex1 fitted at the stern.

Lately I have been seeing a lot of news about various developments related to guided 70mm (2.75 inch) rockets, particularly since an APKWS took down a cruise missile less than two weeks ago.

I probably don’t need to say this again, but I think these are extremely appropriate weapons for the Coast Guard because of their light weight, minimum training and maintenance requirements, low cost, and their range, accuracy, and effectiveness against the range of threats the Coast Guard is most likely to encounter from small drones to merchant ships.

The CUSV seen in the video and below is only 12 meters, 39′ in length.

Textron USV fitted with LIG Next1’s Poniard guided rocket. Textron photo.

South Korean Guided Rocket Test-Fired from USV at RIMPAC 2024

LIG Nex1’s K-LOGIR / Poniard guided rocket successfully finished a Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) during RIMPAC 2024.

“A launch system for the 2.75-inch guided rocket was developed to be mounted on ships. Currently, it is installed on the Royal Saudi Navy’s 2200 Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) and HSI-32 interceptors, The UAE Navy new Gowind corvettes and is planned to be installed on the UAE Navy’s Falaj 3-class OPV.

Installing LIG Nex1’s Poniard launcher on Textron’s CUSV for the live fire test during RIMPAC. (ROK Navy Photo)

Infrared Seeker For APKWS Guided Rockets Is In The Works

“Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II, better known simply as APKWS, is slated to be demonstrated with a passive infrared seeker. The news came in the 2025 Marine Aviation Plan, which states that “Additional demonstrations are also in [the] work[s] with the Army and Air Force to determine [the] feasibility of adding additional guidance methods to the APKWS family, including passive infrared seekers.”

“While little is known about this initiative, such a capability could potentially offer a far cheaper solution with independent targeting capabilities compared to existing missiles, while also increasing magazine depth on certain platforms dramatically.”

OKSI Awarded USSOCOM and AFRL Contracts for Precision Guidance Seeker for Munitions

“July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — OKSI has been awarded multiple contracts totaling nearly $6 million from USSOCOM and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for their ARMGDN seeker. ARMGDN is a capability enhancement to BAE Systems’ APKWS® laser-guidance kit, providing passive target acquisition and tracking for precision engagements. APKWS is a guidance kit for the 2.75 inch Hydra-70 rocket. Together, the APKWS with OKSI’s ARMDGN seeker will facilitate rapid engagements of multiple air or ground targets via ripple fire of multiple precision- guided rockets in rapid succession.”

U.S. F-16 Fighters Shot Down Drones with Laser-Guided Rockets in Combat

“The U.S. Navy also announced in late 2023 that it was about to deliver a new proximity-fused warhead for APKWS II rockets, optimized for use against drones, albeit developed ostensibly for the surface-to-air role. However, further developing an air-to-air capability out of these older rockets is another impressive feat for the U.S. Air Force, that has now the possibility to engage targets at a very small fraction of the cost of other existing missiles.”

Marines to give air-to-ground missile new counter-drone capabilities

“APKWS II continues to provide a reliable, high-capacity precision guided munition for both the rotary wing and fixed wing communities. The program has now completely transitioned to the Single Variant Block Upgrade (SVBU) that will enable the same guidance unit to be used for any platform, as well as increasing the overall employment envelope. To improve performance against UAS, certification of a suitable proximity fuse is in work for fielding to the fleet with current guidance and warhead combinations. Additional demonstrations are also in work with the Army and Air Force to determine feasibility of adding additional guidance methods to the APKWS family, including passive infrared seekers,” officials wrote.

70mm Guided Rockets–Big Stick for Small Ships

Posted on by
3

70

Lets face it, the US Coast Guard is not always ready–not Semper Paratus.

The Coast Guard is not ready to reliably counter a terrorist attack on US ports using Kamikaze air and surface craft (manned or unmanned) or using a medium to large ship. The Coast Guard simply does not have the weapons.

The 57mm Mk110 might be useful against kamikaze drones, but the vessels they are mounted on are either not likely to be in the vicinity of the threat or they will not be capable of getting underway and on scene fast enough to deal with the threat.

Even the 57mm probably isn’t going to stop a medium to large ship under the direction of dedicated terrorists before it completes its mission and again there is doubt large cutters will be in the right place at the right time.

We need weapons that can deal with these threats on widely distributed craft at least as small as the Webber class WPCs. The WPCs do have a 25mm gun but unfortunately that gun does not support an air-burst round that would be needed to deal with Unmanned Air Systems, and it is far too small to expect success against medium to large ships.

APKWS is a proven system against UAS and while it is probably not going to succeed against a medium to large ship, at least has a limited capability. Their warhead is up to three times the size of that of a 57mm projectile.

There are alternatives that could also deal with UAS and that might do better against surface threats:

  • The 25mm could be replaced with a more capable gun. Some would fit in the existing mount.
  • Hellfire and its replacement the AGM-179 JAGM would offer greater range and a larger warhead but, while still relatively small, are heavier and much more expensive. They are still my favored solution.
  • Adaptations Army or Marine Short Range Air Defense system that use a remote weapon station combining missiles with a 30mm gun capable of firing air-burst ammunition (either the high velocity 30mmx173 Mk44  Bushmaster II or the lighter but lower velocity 30mmx113 M230).

APKWS is in the US Navy inventory, but there it is used primarily as an air to ground weapon. It is a semi-active Iaser homing weapon so requires use of a laser designator. It can be as simple as the L3 Harris VAMPIRE system which provides a complete system–weapons, launcher, designator, and detection–that fits on a pickup truck.

APKWS is not the only guided 70mm rocket system. South Korea has developed the “Poniard” Korean-Low cOst Guided Imaging Rocket (K-LOGIR).

This is a fire-and-forget system allowing multiple simultaneous engagements. It is also claimed to have advantages in periods of restricted visibility.

The Weapon has already been exported. Here is a report on an earlier test was done by 4th Fleet.

“ADAPTING LAND-BASED SYSTEMS FOR EFFECTIVE LOW-COST ENGAGEMENT SOLUTIONS AT SEA” –L3 Harris

Posted on by
Reply

The VAMPIRE system can fit in almost any pickup or vehicle with a cargo bed. (Courtesy of L3Harris)

Below is an L3 Harris news release labeled as an editorial. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I have been a fan of APKWS since 2017. Tens of thousands of APKWS conversion kits are made annually. They are cheap at about $30,000. There is now a proximity fuse available. L3 Harris has integrated electro-optic sensors and fire control to create a complete system. It is combat proven against Unmanned Air Systems. It seems an almost ideal system for executing the Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security mission against both surface and air asymmetric threats. Perhaps significantly, VAMPIRE is a Navy system.

While our Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE™) system has already proven its effectiveness with ground based missions, its adaptation for maritime use will revolutionize maritime surveillance and defense.

The VAMPIRE system, originally designed to address the emerging unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threat, has garnered acclaim for its precision and reliability in combat. Already proven on the ground in Ukraine, these effective, low-cost engagement capabilities can be extended to the seas, offering a transformative solution for maritime operations against UAS, fast inshore attack crafts and low-slow flyers.

The significance of the maritime system extends beyond its immediate capabilities. Its integration into naval operations redefines maritime security protocols, enhancing surveillance, reconnaissance, and deterrence capabilities. With the ability to swiftly detect and counter aerial and surface threats, naval forces can better safeguard maritime assets, ensure personnel safety, lower the weapons cost curve and maintain strategic superiority in contested environments.

The mission management system enables the integration onto manned and unmanned surface vessels featuring an advanced WESCAM MX™-10 MS targeting sensor with its weapons station, allowing a remote operator to engage targets quickly and accurately. Like its ground-based counterpart, maritime VAMPIRE employs the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) paired with L3Harris’ proximity fuze to defend against surface and air threats, providing naval forces with an accurate, low-cost engagement capability.

The VAMPIRE system highlights L3Harris’ dedication to supporting the defense needs of nations across the globe. By extending this versatile solution to the maritime domain, L3Harris is providing naval forces with cost-appropriate options to adapt to evolving threats and safeguard waters effectively.

As the landscape of maritime security challenges undergoes constant evolution, forward-looking, full-scale production and low-cost solutions are needed to counter the wide range of dynamic challenges.  L3Harris is committed to innovation and adaptability in addressing evolving security threats by leveraging and adapting existing technology like VAMPIRE for maritime use.

RELATED CAPABILITIES

“Vampire weapon system makes Ukraine combat debut” –Defense Blog

Posted on by
3

Defense Blog reports,

The Ukrainian Navy’s press service recently released footage showcasing the combat effectiveness of their air defense units, marking the confirmed debut of a new Counter-Unmanned Air System (UAS) weapon system developed by L3Harris for Ukraine.

The video captured the moment when a Russian kamikaze drone, identified as the Shahed-136, was successfully shot down by an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rocket launched from the Vampire weapon system.

If you have been following my blog, you know I like this system and have been advocating for Coast Guard use of the APKWS since at least 2017.

  • It is probably less maintenance intensive than a .50 caliber machine gun.
  • It has a very small footprint and light weight.
  • Because it is a precision weapon, it minimizes the probability of collateral damage.
  • It is a proven counter Unmanned Air System.
  • It can employ a variety of warheads for different purposes including air burst with the M429 proximity fuse. It has even been tested successfully against cruise missiles.
  • It is effective against small, fast, highly maneuverable surface threats.
  • It has an effective range greater than that of our M38 gun mounts and a similar effective range to that of the 57mm and 76m guns.
  • While I would not count on its ability to stop medium to large ships, it can inflict damage at effective ranges beyond that of most weapons a terrorist organization might equip a vessel with.  It is likely to be a lot more effective against small ships than the Mk38.
  • And it is cheap. 

Without much additional effort, it could make Coast Guard assets much more capable in the Ports, Waterways & Coastal Security and Defense Readiness missions.

“Research and Development Center projects continue to enhance Coast Guard mission success” –CG-9

Posted on by
Reply

The Coast Guard Research and Development Center workforce is based in New London, Connecticut. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Below is a news release from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9). If you follow the links there is a huge amount of information.

There is a lot of ongoing work, including cooperation with 4th Fleet in their efforts to operationalize unmanned systems. I had hoped the Coast Guard was doing that, and it’s gratifying to see they in fact are.

The projects listed are wide ranging and may potentially impact every mission area.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was that they are working on detect and avoid systems for small UAS. It appears they are looking at beyond visual line of sight UAS that could be used by the Fast Response Cutters and other vessels that do not have a flight deck. Apparently, they are also looking at using Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) to fire warning shots, presumably to stop drug runners. Would that mean they would also use USVs for disabling fire?

They are also looking at counter UAS alternatives, at ways to operate more effectively in polar regions, maritime domain awareness, and a lot more. It’s very impressive, especially when you consider how little the Coast Guard spends on R&D.

Feb. 7, 2024 —

In fiscal year 2023, the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, Connecticut, supported a research portfolio of 54 projects, covering the full scope of the Coast Guard’s missions. This video highlights a few of those projects, including beyond visual line of sight unmanned aircraft system detect and avoid technology, cutter-based unmanned systems integration with the Ship Control and Navigation Training System, International Maritime Organization polar code validation through advanced simulation modeling, and laser corrosion removal.

View video here.

Related: FY24 RDT&E Project Portfolio

For more information: Research and Development Center page and Research, Development, Test & Evaluation and Innovation Program page

 

“US Sending Experimental Anti-Drone Weapons to Ukraine” –DefenseOne

Posted on by
1

Shahed 136 drones. Iranian military photo

Defense One has a post about a new anti-drone system that is expected to be sent to Ukraine to counter Russia’s Iranian made Shahed-136 suicide drones.

In addition to APKWS laser guided rockets,

“The system also includes a M240 machine-gun mount and an electronic warfare system that can take control of a commercial drone, including any DJI-brand system not operating with advanced encryption…”

The Coast Guard should have an interest in a counter drone capability both for the Webber class WPCs based in Bahrain and for domestic counter terrorism. Such a system, combining APKWS with a 30mm gun, would also be useful against other potential threats as well.

 

Is There a Replacement for the M2 .50 caliber Machine Gun

Posted on by
29

Most of us are familiar with the M2 .50 cal. machine gun. It is found on most Coast Guard Cutters. Its familiar. Its simple. It is a stand alone weapon that requires no external power. It is frequently a Coast Guard vessel’s primary weapon, as on the 87 foot patrol boats, buoy tenders, and icebreakers. It is the secondary as on the FRCs and WMECs.

Modern-day air-cooled 0.50″ (12.7 mm) Browning Machine Gun. US Navy Photograph No. 020704-N-0156B-002.

Nominally it has an effective range of 2,200 yards, but I suspect that is only against advancing infantry formations. It is certainly not accurate at that range after the first round in full auto.

Aside from firing warning shots at close range, it is frankly not a very good weapon for use in the naval environment. The gunner is largely exposed, where he can be picked off by a sniper. Even terrorists or criminals can easily obtain weapons that equal or overmatch it range and hitting power. The damage it can do to anything beyond the smallest vessels is very limited.

When used in a crowded harbor, its range, combined with its inaccuracy, and the lack of a self-destruct feature for it projectiles, mean it may cause collateral damage.

It is almost totally useless against aircraft. During World War II, Navy experience was that it required an average of 11,285 rounds for a .50 caliber machine gun to bring down an aircraft. The .50 caliber weapons on ships were credited with 14.5 aircraft kills for 163,630 rounds expended, so it probably not going to be very useful against drones.

We should not expect it to provide an effective self defense capability.

There are things we could do to improve it. We could provide better sights. We could provide protection for the gun crew. We could mount it in a Remote Weapons Station (RWS), but really we could do a lot better.

Northrop Grumman seems to think they have a replacement, perhaps two. Most recent is the 20mm Sky Viper proposed to equip the Army’s planned Future Attack  Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) seen in the video above.

As with General Dynamics’ offering, specialty munitions for use against troops, unmanned aerial vehicles, ground vehicles and other helicopters, can be integrated with Sky Viper, flexibility which naturally suggests other applications.

While emphasizing that Sky Viper is a FARA-focused effort (with DEVCOM funding), Canole acknowledges that Northrop Grumman is looking beyond the platform to where it might offer a solution “with a lot more firepower than a .50 caliber”. That could include the Army’s new Mobile Protected Firepower light tank prototypes for which .50 caliber (12.7mm) auxiliary guns are already spec-ed.

“The low recoil and a relatively lightweight system really opens the door for [applications] where .50 calibers tend to be the mainstay,” Canole says.

From Back Left: 40mm grenade casing, 30x173mm (A-10/M44), 30x113mm (M230), 25x137mm (M242/Mk38 gun mount), 20x102mm (Phalanx), 50 BMG; Foreground: 300Blackout (typical rifle round), 9mmx19 (typical pistol round)

The Sky Viper, which uses the same 20x102mm round as the 20mm Vulcan Gatling gun, that equips the Phalanx CIWS, is evolved from the 30mm M230 that fires the 30x113mm. You can see in the photo above that the 20x102mm is a much smaller round than either the 30x113mm or the 25x137mm used by our current 25mm MK38 mounts, but it is substantially more powerful than the .50 caliber.

As the newest member of the chain gun family, we can expect some improvements. Compared to the M230 it has much lower recoil forces, a higher rate of fire, and is lighter, lighter in fact, than the .50 caliber M2.

Apparently earlier the M230 was also seen as a potential replacement for the .50 caliber M2. It still offers some advantages.

It is in service with the Marine Corps, so it is already in the Navy inventory and ammunition supply system. It is actually smaller, more compact, lighter, and has far less recoil than the 25mm M242 in the Mk38 mounts.

Compared to the .50 caliber, the 30x113mm projectile is far more effective against larger targets and is effective at a greater range.

Used in a remote weapon station, it is far more accurate than a .50 caliber M2, and anytime you add a remote weapon station, the ship benefits from the high quality optics that come with it.

Plus there is a programable air burst fuse already available for the 30x113mm round that is apparently effective against drones.

I would not suggest replacing the 25mm Mk38s with either of these, unless the remote weapon station also incorporated missiles like Hellfire/JAGM and/or Stinger, but as replacements for .50 caliber they offer great advantage.

 

“Navy Arming Surface Ships with Drone Repellent System” –USNI

Posted on by
1

USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC-1141) prior to departure for PATFORSWA

The US Naval Institute News Service has a short post about a system that will reportedly detect and if required jam the radio frequency signals that control small Unmanned Air Systems like the commercially available hobby drones and similar control systems that might be used on larger UAS.

We noted the presence of this or a similar system on the Webber class cutters being transferred to PATFORSWA in February.

While there are autopilots that allow drones to travel considerable distances to reach fixed geographic points, operating drones that lack autonomous targeting, against moving targets, typically require two radio frequencies, one the video link from the drone back to the operator and one to control the drone, from the operator back to the drone. Jamming either of the frequencies would probably disable the drone. Generally these frequencies are UHF or VHF, limited to line of sight.

Gunner’s Mate Kyle Mendenhall shows the Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) system aboard USS Kansas City (LCS-22) on Aug. 16, 2021. USNI News Photo

If you expand the photo of USCGC Charles Moulthrope above, you can see a similar system, with its two vertical antenna of different sizes, on the mast port side, slightly below and behind the port blue flashing light, and above and inboard of the small round fixed air search radar antenna.