Soldiers from 2d Cavalry Regiment, Field Artillery Squadron familiarize with the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Mobile Integrated Capability, (CMIC) anti-drone capability at Grafenwoer Training Area in Germany. Photo: US Army by Sgt. Devon Bistarkey

Parallel to MFIX at Ft Sill Oklahoma, the Army tested another capability – the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Mobile Integrated Capability, (CMIC) with its forces in Europe. Similar to AUDS, CMIC integrates drone detection, tracking and non-kinetic denial capabilities to defeat UAS threats.

Employed as the capability gap solution to an emerging threat, CMIC enables platforms equipped for tracking Field Artillery into UAV air traffic tracking platforms with a 360 degree-search sector.

“The U.S. Army has witnessed drones as a threat in theater,” said Maj. David C. Andrews, Fires Center of Excellence, C-UAS mobile capability lead. “Our enemies are adapting, and this capability is the leading system to detect and defeat that threat.”

The Q-50 radar carried on a HMMWV is part of the two Stryker CMIC team. Photo: US Army by Sgt. Devon Bistarkey

While the CMIC capability has been in development for three years, testing of its mobile integration onto two Stryker Vehicles took place last October. Now, for the first time, it is being implemented into a training environment with the 2d Cavalry Regiment, part of the US Army in Europe. 2CR Field Artillery Squadron, as the proponent for the fielding, conducted new equipment training Feb. 27- March 30, 2017, at Grafenwoer Training Area, Rose Barracks, Germany. During the training staff identify capabilities, limitations and developed Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) for tactical employment during fielding.

“During training, I have been able to work directly work with radar for the first time,” said Staff. Sgt. Matthew Braddock, Fire Support, FA 2CR. “I am able to pick up and track things I wouldn’t normally see with higher resolution and better clarity.”

“This is a different type of tracking,” said Spc. Cristian Garcia, FA Squadron, Target Acquisition Platoon, HHB, 2CR.

This training comes as an additional skill set for Soldiers who primary occupational specialty ranges from infantrymen, Electronic Warfare personnel, and forward observers.

The complete integration of the C-UAS system, which utilizes two organic mounted Q-50 radars and along with the two CMIC Strykers, will be employed during Saber Junction 17 and continue to support ongoing missions within the ESAREUR theater of operations.

The SABRE payload provided by DRS is the EO sensor integrated with CMIC. Photo: US Army by Sgt. Devon Bistarkey
One of the two Strykers associated with the CMIC that deployed to Europe in February 2017. Photo: US Army by Sgt. Devon Bistarkey