Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems Works To Increase Lethality Of Existing Weapon Systems | Article | The United States Army
AI Analysis
The U.S. Army is addressing the growing threat of inexpensive, commercially available UAS by enhancing existing weapon systems like the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The evolving UAS threat requires a shift from traditional electronic warfare to diverse, cost-effective kinetic solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Inexpensive UAS pose a significant threat to armored formations.
- UAS technology is becoming more accessible and harder to counter with traditional methods.
- The Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle's 25 mm M242 chain gun is being adapted to engage UAS threats.
- Current air defense solutions are costly and not suited for countering low-cost UAS.
- There is a need for low-cost kinetic effectors to protect military formations.
Why It Matters
The proliferation of affordable UAS technology necessitates a strategic shift in military defense tactics, emphasizing the need for adaptable and cost-effective counter-UAS systems. This development is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of armored units and ensuring the security of military operations against evolving drone threats.
Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems Works To Increase Lethality Of Existing Weapon Systems
By Maj. Kenneth Welch and Kaitlyn Tani for Behind the FrontlinesApril 3, 2026
The Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle firing the 25 mm M242 chain gun which can be used to engage UAS threats. (Photo Credit: 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team 1st Armored Division) VIEW ORIGINAL
It is not often that a revolution in the conduct of warfare occurs, however the introduction of inexpensive, commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, to the battlefield is just that. Recent global conflicts have demonstrated the vulnerability of large, armored formations and the threat posed by small UAS. The maneuverability of large, armored formations has always been a challenge when breaching defensive lines, but the current vulnerability to the formation is the inability to effectively counter the rapidly growing UAS threat. This new threat set is causing commanders to re-think the employment of armored formations, underscoring a fundamental shift in modern combat dynamics.
Historically, drones and other UAS were limited to technologically-advanced militaries employing multi-million-dollar platforms for persistent surveillance and strikes. Recent conflicts, both globally and within terrorist organizations, have revealed a new paradigm: UASs are no longer limited to technologically advanced militaries, but rather, the new improvised explosive device of this generation’s war. Similarly, UASs are now employed through inexpensive, commercially available and even 3D-printed material that can include modified payloads capable of devastating expensive platforms that lack adequate defenses. The ease of manufacturing and deployment will only lead to further proliferation and evolution in future conflicts, demanding the development of diverse solutions quickly to protect U.S. forces and strengthen homeland security. While threats are becoming cheaper and more accessible on the battlefield, a crucial element of defense must include low-cost kinetic effectors empowering crews to protect themselves and their formations.
THE EVER-EVOLVING UAS THREAT AND CURRENT C-UAS GAPS
The UAS threat is dynamic and exacerbated by a continuous cycle of countermeasure development and UAS reengineering. Historically, drones could be jammed through various electronic warfare technologies by disrupting drone communications, resulting in a communication severance and ultimately a failed mission. As technology evolves, UAS threats will begin to move away from networked communication systems to fiber optic drones, becoming impervious to jammers. This rapid evolution necessitates a diverse suite of effectors to address the changing threat landscape.
Current air defense solutions are often expensive, limited in number and usually at echelons above brigades. The cost-benefit ratio of employing a several-hundred-thousand-dollar missile to defeat hobbyist drones is questionable