This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
U.S.-based defense company Northrop Grumman has introduced a new, cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) feature aimed at assisting warfighters to make real-time decisions against drone swarms. The Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Advanced Battle Manager (ABM) is designed to address the increasing complexity of counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) operations, harnessing the power of AI.
This innovative upgrade allows military personnel to neutralize drone threats by tapping a mobile tablet, simplifying the decision-making process and improving flexibility for U.S. forces and their allies. The system has successfully undergone testing at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, showcasing its readiness for deployment.
The ABM builds upon the existing FAAD Command and Control (FAAD-C2) system, which is already widely used by the U.S. military and allies like the Baltic States. FAAD-C2 integrates short-range air defense, counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar missions, making it critical for multi-domain operations. The ABM enhances this capability by rapidly analyzing threat data from multiple sensors, recommending the most effective countermeasures while avoiding friendly fire incidents.
With an open architecture design, the ABM allows for seamless integration of various vendors’ weapons and sensors, facilitating interoperability across platforms. This flexibility is crucial as the military faces increasingly sophisticated threats. The system can generate engagement plans in under a quarter of a second, providing real-time ‘weapon-target pairings’ that leverage years of live fire data.
Kenneth Todorov, Northrop’s Vice President and a retired Air Force missile defender, emphasized the importance of simplifying operations during high-stress engagements. “This critical AI enhancement will create a streamlined and intuitive engagement plan, giving service members more time to save lives with a single click,” he stated.
As drone warfare continues to evolve, Northrop Grumman’s AI-driven solutions stand to significantly improve the effectiveness of air defense operations.
