Integrated battle command systems and counter electronic countermeasures software are two of the Army's key air and missile defense priorities, according to Army acquisition executive Heidi Shyu, speaking at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium underway now in Huntsville, Alabama.

IBCS Provides soldiers with situational awareness, while the CECM software will make it possible to fight in the contested environments the U.S. is likely to face in the future from places like Iran and North Korea.

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Some of Shyu's other air and missile defense priorities include:

  • A modernized radar digital processor for the Patriot system;
  • The Patriot Missile Segment Enhancement, which would provide long-range precision fires;
  • An indirect fire protection capability to counter UAVs and missiles;
  • A lower tier AESA radar to provide an enhanced discriminating capability, and;
  • High energy lasers, which Shyu said will be tested this fall at White Sands missile Range.

Operation in contested environments will only take on more importance as the US engages in the latest hotspots around the world. Assured position, navigation, and timing will be a key technology enabler to operating in contested environments.

"Assured (positioning, navigation and timing) is a capability we absolutely need," said Shyu. "We're Incredibly dependent on GPS and need to have the ability to operate unimpeded."

Establishment of a common operating environment from the sensor to the shooter is also key.

"Requirements are now written in stovepipes," she said. "(What's needed is) a common operating environment and common operating interface."

Developing those technologies and capabilities in a constrained budgetary environment is the challenge, she said, laying out a five step process for modernization.

  1. Divest aging systems;
  2. Reset and sustainment for equipment used in theater;
  3. Incrementally upgrade existing platforms. As Shyu put it, we must "buy back power and weight."
  4. Build new capabilities to increase survivability, mobility and lethality.
  5. Invest in science and technology to enable next-generation capabilities.

"S&T is the seed corn for future capabilities," she said.

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