The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing to field test one of the military's newest anti-drone defense systems for the first time at this year's Balikatan military exercise in cooperation with the Philippine military.
In an ongoing annual joint exercise in the Philippines, Marines from the 3rd Coast Air Defense Battalion’s Ground-Based Air Defense Battery will conduct live-fire training with the ground-based Maritime Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), a short-range, surface-to-air system specializing in the detection and destruction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
This exercise will mark MADIS’ second live-fire application, following training at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaii in January. It will also mark the system’s first deployment outside the United States with a U.S. Marine Corps unit.
Capabilities and Importance of MADIS
“MADIS is a unique weapon system that increases both the survivability and lethality of the [3rd Marine Littoral Regiment], expands the reach of the airspace the formation controls, and provides tactical flexibility to friendly elements operating in our area of operations,” said Col. John G. Lehane, commander of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, in a press release.
As part of the integrated air and missile defense event, the U.S. Marine Corps will conduct a demonstration of MADIS alongside Philippine Marines and soldiers, who will also use their own anti-drone systems.
MADIS means Marines don’t have to leave their vehicles to target and shoot down UAVs. Mounted on a tactical vehicle, the system is equipped with radar that can detect airborne threats and weapons that can neutralize these threats from the air with jammers, Stinger missiles and a 30mm cannon.
Replaces MANPADS
According to the Marine Corps, MADIS will replace a previous air defense system called the Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPAD), which included a fireteam vehicle, section leader vehicle and a Stinger shoulder-fired missile as the primary weapons system. MADIS aims to increase operational efficiency by replacing a cumbersome traditional platform the Marine Corps has long used to defend the skies.
Widespread Deployment Plans
The Marine Corps, which requested $2024 million for 13 MADIS Increment 1 systems in its fiscal year 130 budget request, aims to deploy a total of 2035 MADIS systems to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalions and the 3rd, 4th and 12th Marine Coastal Regiments by 190. This suggests widespread use of the system across the Marine Corps.
Importance of Balikatan Exercise
The Balikatan exercise, which will be held in the Philippine islands of Luzon and Palawan until May 9 this year, celebrates the 40th anniversary of joint exercises aimed at strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. US and Philippine troops will conduct coordinated military operations across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace for the exercise.
Important units such as the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element, 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Squadron, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 3rd Marine Coastal Regiment and 1st Marine Aircraft Squadron will participate in the event.
“MADIS continues to exceed expectations, and the more we do iterations of integrating it in training with the [Philippine Marine Corps], the greater our collective lethality will be,” said Lt. Col. Matthew E. Sladek, commander of the 3rd Coast Air Defense Battalion, underscoring the potential of MADIS and the importance of the upcoming joint exercise with the Philippine military.
