MFIX Press Release (November 2018)
Liteye and Northrop Grumman Demonstrate Mobile, Networked, Electronic and Kinetic Capabilities to Counter Unmanned Threat Systems During Army’s Maneuver and Fires Integration Exercise (MFIX 18)
Liteye Systems and Northrop Grumman demonstrates new added capabilities to the successfully deployed Counter Unmanned Systems called AUDS and M-AUDS.
Ft. Sill, OK, November 29th, 2018 – Liteye Systems Inc., as a leading supplier of Counter Unmanned Systems to the U.S. Department of Defense, participated in the U.S. Army’s MFIX (Maneuver and Fires Integration Exercise) event at Ft. Sill, OK, this November. Together with Northrop Grumman’s M230LF, 30 x 113mm Bushmaster® Chain Gun®; Liteye’s counter UAS Defense System (known as AUDS), integrated on a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV), demonstrated an effective solution to counter any Unmanned Air, Ground or Surface threat.
During MFIX, the integrated system demonstrated a passive RF surveillance and self-protect capability to support CUAS while on the move. This capability is an added improvement to the mature detect, track, identify and defeat capabilities found in the current AUDS configuration. Additionally, Liteye worked with Northrop Grumman to integrate with the Army’s Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) network for Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD). These improvements support a fully networked and mobile Counter-UAS kill chain to defeat Class 1 and Class 2 UAS through non-lethal and lethal measures with the AUDS and the Bushmaster cannons.
Liteye Vice President of Business Development, Ryan Hurt, shared how recent improvements to the system allowed a network integrated AUDS to detect, track, identify and defeat UAV’s in different operational environments.
“While on the move, our system integrates a passive RF surveillance capability and omni-directional electronic jam to break contact with a UAS threat. While at the halt, AUDS provides active detection, tracking, identification and a decisive directional electronic defeat of Unmanned Air, Ground and Surface Vehicles,” Hurt explained. “The system can be operated from both fixed locations and mobile platforms. In either case, the operator maintains control over weapon system assignment and that could include the XM914 30mm Bushmaster Chain Gun.”
Northrop Grumman’s M230LF, is a link fed version of the M230 Bushmaster Chain Gun integrated on the U.S. Army’s Apache attack helicopter. During MFIX, the M230 and AUDS systems also demonstrated how it provides operational overmatch through defeating a UAS ground control station identified by AUDS during an engagement scenario. The M230LF also provides the system a future capability improvement path to incorporate advanced ammunition types that Northrop Grumman is developing.
About Liteye Systems, Inc. (https://liteye.com)
Located on the front range of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, Liteye Systems, Inc., a US company, is a world leader in technology solutions, manufacturing & integration of Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS), Drone Sense and Warn Systems, rugged high-resolution head mounted displays (HMD), augmented weapons sights, covert thermal surveillance systems, electronic warfare packages, radar systems, and fire control software. Our cutting-edge solutions feature revolutionary designs in optics, electronics, ergonomics, and form factors that enable a broad range of military and commercial applications. Our R&D team delivers sophisticated custom packages for some of the world’s largest companies and government agencies. With offices in the UK and sales affiliates worldwide, Liteye is protecting critical infrastructure from real world threats. For inquiries, contact Ryan Hurt @ 763-203-4503.
About Northrop Grumman (www.northropgrumman.com )
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions to government and commercial customers worldwide. With approximately 85,000 employees in all 50 states and in more than 25 countries, we strive to attract and retain the best employees by providing an inclusive work environment wherein employees are receptive to diverse ideas, perspectives and talents to help solve our toughest customer challenges: to develop and maintain some of the most technically sophisticated products, programs and services in the world. For inquiries, contact Jarrod Krull @ 763-744-5371
