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A growing challenge for modern forces is the rapid spread of unmanned threats across air and maritime domains. Small drones and unmanned surface vessels are inexpensive, hard to detect, and increasingly used for surveillance and attack missions. Defending against them requires weapons that can react quickly, cover all directions, and operate reliably even when GPS or communications are disrupted.
A recent test in the United States highlighted one possible response. During a demonstration at China Lake, California, a Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) was launched vertically at a 90-degree angle from a quad launcher configuration. The missile successfully intercepted an unmanned aerial system, showing that a weapon originally designed for air-to-ground missions can also be deployed as a surface-based interceptor against drones.
The key element in the test was the vertical launch itself. By firing straight up rather than along a fixed trajectory, the launcher creates a full 360-degree defensive envelope. This approach allows the same missile to be deployed from a wide range of platforms, including ground vehicles and naval vessels, without requiring complex launcher alignment. In the demonstration, the launcher was mounted on a 6×6 vehicle, underscoring the system’s mobility and adaptability.
According to Interesting Engineering, at the core of the missile’s flexibility is its dual-mode seeker, combining semi-active laser guidance with millimeter-wave radar. Operators can use either sensor independently or both together, depending on mission needs and environmental conditions. If one guidance mode is degraded, the missile can continue the engagement using the other. This design supports accurate strikes against moving and stationary targets in poor weather, cluttered environments, or under electronic countermeasures.
Although JAGM is best known as an air-launched weapon against armored vehicles and fortified targets, the vertical launch test points to a broader defensive role. For naval forces, the ability to integrate such a missile into surface launchers could provide an additional layer of protection against drones and fast unmanned craft. For ground forces, it suggests a compact counter-UAS solution that can be deployed with maneuver units.
From a homeland security and defense perspective, the demonstration reflects a wider trend: adapting existing precision weapons to counter emerging unmanned threats across domains. As drones become a persistent feature of both military and security scenarios, systems that combine multi-sensor guidance with flexible launch options are likely to play an increasingly important role.
