Ground-Based Aircraft-Protection Technology Demonstrated Against UAVs

Released on Tuesday, July 08, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. � General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products recently conducted a system demonstration of its ground-based, Counter Man-Portable Airspace Protection System (CMAPS) against multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) at the Naval Air Systems Command test facility in China Lake, Calif. CMAPS successfully detected, tracked and destroyed various UAVs by targeting critical aircraft components during the test. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

The recent counter-UAV demonstration at China Lake follows a series of successful CMAPS technology demonstrations since March 2006 in which CMAPS demonstrated capability in defeating Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). To date the system has detected, tracked and defeated MANPADS; and now has proven its success in defeating small UAVs as well.

"As we just demonstrated, CMAPS defeated a variety of UAVs, proving that the system has multi-mission capabilities," said Phil Hynes, vice president of strategic planning for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. "Tests have shown that General Dynamics' ground-based countermeasure system can successfully protect airspace and other assets, including infrastructure and ships, against a broad spectrum of threats."

CMAPS is a ground-based system that uses a network of sensors to detect and track a threat, whether it is a missile or UAV. Once identified, high-power, infrared countermeasures are directed to the target to defeat the threat.

One of CMAPS' key strengths is its mobility. It is portable and can be rapidly deployed to any airfield, and the system can operate safely in both remote and densely populated areas.

In 2006, Congress directed the Department of Homeland Security to explore new missile-countermeasure technologies that do not rely solely on infrared technology onboard aircraft. The General Dynamics ground-based CMAPS continues to prove to be a viable alternative to current aircraft-based countermeasure technologies. Developed primarily to protect military aircraft, the system also could be deployed at civilian airports to protect aircraft at any locale. It eliminates the need for a jet to have its own aircraft-based system.