DARPA’s MFP to counter small UAS
DARPA has awarded Phase 1 agreements for its Mobile Force Protection (MFP) programme to three teams led by Dynetics, Saab and SRC, the agency announced on 21 August.
The MFP programme aims to develop real-time protection for ground and maritime convoys by advancing technology to quickly neutralise hostile small UAS.
Hostile, small UAS are a challenge of increasing concern for the US military. Countering the threat they pose to land and sea convoys in real time requires a range of technology advances to enable their rapid detection, identification, tracking, and neutralization. MFP aims to achieve these goals by developing scalable, modular and affordable approaches that could be deployed within the next three to four years and evolve with advances in threats, tactics, and technology.
The three teams will work to integrate novel ideas for advanced sensors and neutralisation approaches into a common framework emphasizing safety for civilian bystanders, ease of operation, and low size, weight, power, and cost. The goal is a technology demonstration system that could by integrated with current tactical ground vehicles and maritime vessels.
To speed development DARPA has selected the US Army’s Maneuver Aviation and Fires Integration Application (MAFIA) service-oriented architecture as the common framework for the data-fusion engine, decision-aid algorithms, and user interface, as well as the backbone for the teams’ command and control software.
MAFIA is already in the field supporting multiple operating systems and has the required capability to enable an envisioned plug-and-play system capable of integrating new sensors and emerging technologies.
The MFP programme will have three phases, with the timeline currently aiming for a technology demonstration system to show initial functionality at the end of phase one and progressively improve, culminating in a full-capability demonstration on a moving vehicle or vessel by the end of phase three.
At the conclusion of each open-air demonstration, DARPA will offer the military and government agencies the opportunity to fund extended field evaluations, with the goal of developing the interim versions and the final prototype system to meet the needs of a broad number of potential US government and commercial users.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Australia invests $1.4 billion in additional AMRAAM buy]()
Australia invests $1.4 billion in additional AMRAAM buy
Some of the missiles ordered can be used on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and the F35-A Lightning.
-
![Armies turn to armour and self-defence as support vehicles near the frontline]()
Armies turn to armour and self-defence as support vehicles near the frontline
Combat losses of support and logistics vehicles in recent conflicts have highlighted the need for greater protection and even self-defence capabilities. What options are available to turn a basic truck into a survivor on the battlefield?
-
![German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year]()
German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year
More than 1,200 Dingo 1 and Dingo 2 models have been built and deployed by some 10 countries. The latest Dingo 3 pulls through from user inputs and, like earlier versions, is also based on a UNIMOG chassis.
-
![Hungary’s Gamma Technical expands vehicle range]()
Hungary’s Gamma Technical expands vehicle range
The company’s new variants of 4×6 and 6×6 vehicles are designed to be modular for a greater variety of missions and also flexibility at a subsystem level, for example transmission and engine.
-
![US Army seeks nearly $900 million to accelerate development and acquisition of CUAS capabilities]()
US Army seeks nearly $900 million to accelerate development and acquisition of CUAS capabilities
The branch plans to speed up the building and procurement of kinetic and non-kinetic systems for fixed, semi-fixed and on-the-move operations.
-
![Large 10×10 vehicles go in search of a role]()
Large 10×10 vehicles go in search of a role
Wheeled vehicles ranging in size from 4×4 to 8×8 provide high-speed at a good level of mobility compared to tracked. However, tracked can be larger and have a higher level of mobility in marginal terrain with a smaller turning circle. What are the possibilities for a 10×10?
