QUANTICO MARINE BASE, Va. – U.S. Marine Corps air-defense experts needed launchers for Stinger missiles and support services for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS). They found their solution from the Raytheon Technologies Corp. Missiles & Defense segment in Tucson, Ariz.
Officials of the Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico Marine Base, Va., announced a $24 million contract to Raytheon last Wednesday to deliver as many as 15 low-rate initial production air-to-air missile launchers, ancillary components, training, and engineering for the MADIS Increment 1 program.
MADIS is to help modernize Marine Corps ground-based air defenses and enable Marines to move away from using Stinger missiles launched from light combat vehicles like humvees against enemy fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
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The MADIS system uses the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), and relies on two vehicles per section that work together: the MADIS Mk1 and Mk2. The MADIS Mk1 is designed to attack and destroy fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, while the Mk2 attacks UAVS and provides radar, command, and control for the pair.
The Marine corps also has the Light MADIS (LMADIS), which hosts the radar and electronic warfare (EW) suite on a Polaris MRZR ultra-light turbo diesel combat vehicle. MADIS and LMADIS are part of Marine Corps plans to upgrade their two active Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) battalions.
The MADIS Mk1 variant carries a turret containing a missile pod with four Stinger missiles, and a 30-millimeter cannon. It also carries a Modi II electronic warfare system from Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) in Sparks, Nev.
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The electronic countermeasure (ECM) system can disrupt enemy UAVs, communications, and radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIED). Using electronic warfare, air defenders can spoof the drone’s navigation system, jam its communications by separating its data link, or defeat fuses and weapon triggers.
The radar on the MADIS Mk2 is the RPS-42 produced by RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. in Netanya, Israel. The MADIS Mk2 vehicle also has an M134 Minigun and a 7.62-millimeter NATO six-barrel rotary machine gun. Marines also want to give MADIS the ability eventually to intercept medium-range cruise missiles.
On this contract Raytheon will do the work in Tucson, Ariz., and should be finished by September 2026. For more information contact Raytheon Missiles & Defense online at www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com, or Marine Corps Systems Command at www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil.
