20 August 2020

Northrop Grumman Armament Systems advances M-ACE development

by Andrew White

Northrop Grumman Armament Systems is moving to verify the design and upgrade its Mobile Acquisition Cueing and Effector (M-ACE) system following a test event completed in July.

Conducted at the company’s private proving grounds, northwest of Armament Systems’ headquarters near Minneapolis, the event was aimed at demonstrating advanced predictive cueing integration between the M-ACE vehicle – which is equipped with radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), radio frequency (RF) sensors, and a command and control (C2) suite – and several Scorpion air defence (AD) vehicles fitted with 30 mm M230LF Bushmaster cannons.

Northrop Grumman Armament Systems conducted its latest field test of M-ACE and Scorpion AD tactical ground vehicles in July. Further tests are scheduled in October when M230LF Bushmaster cannons will fire proximity fused 30 mm ammunition to neutralise UASs. (Northrop Grumman Armament Systems )

M-ACE comprises a multi-mission ground and air security which can be tasked with counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) operations, company officials told Janes .

Northrop Grumman’s Business Development Director, Armament Systems C-UAS, Robert Menti, said the event successfully proved a fully “networked, integrated, full kill chain” capable of detecting ground and UAS threats at extended ranges.

“The advanced predictive cueing capability enables shortening the kill chain decision cycle (target identification, classification, and prioritisation) at near machine speed,” Menti explained. “This is accomplished through the fusion of sensors and autonomous/artificial intelligence capabilities of the system.”

The next test event is scheduled to be conducted at Big Sandy Range in Arizona in October which will see the Scorpion AD vehicles firing proximity fused ammunition from the M230LF to destroy UASs that are initially identified, tracked, and targeted by M-ACE.

Northrop Grumman Armament Systems is moving to verify the design and upgrade its Mobile Acquisition ...

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