The US Marine Corps tested a new counter-drone system in the Philippines in April that could reduce the need to rely constantly on expensive missiles, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The system, known as MADIS, consists of two armored vehicles. One carries an upgraded radar, while the other is equipped with a Stinger air defense system. Both vehicles are also fitted with a small cannon, a machine gun and electronic warfare equipment.
According to the report, the main idea behind MADIS is to give troops several options for dealing with drones. Depending on the threat, they can use guns, missiles or electronic warfare, rather than spending costly weapons on every target.
The Marine Corps considers one of the system’s most useful features to be its ability to fire specialized 30 mm rounds with a proximity fuse. These shells detonate when a target comes close. They are less precise than missiles, but far cheaper and can be effective against drones such as the Shahed.
The Wall Street Journal noted that countering large numbers of low-cost drones has become one of the biggest challenges for modern armies. US forces first faced this problem during operations against Iran, when they had to use high-precision but very expensive missiles with limited stockpiles.