Air Defense

Mobile LIDS (M-LIDS)

Also known as
  • M-LIDS
  • Mobile LIDS
  • Mobile-LIDS
  • Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System
  • Mobile Low, Slow, Small UAS Integrated Defeat System
  • Mobile Low, Slow, Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defense System

Mobile LIDS (M-LIDS) is the U.S. Army's mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System. Leonardo DRS is the lead systems integrator for a mobile counter-UAS section that combines Raytheon KuRFS/Ku720 radar and Coyote effectors, Northrop Grumman FAAD C2, SRC electronic warfare, a Coyote launcher vehicle, and an XM914 30 mm chain gun defeat layer.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Platform
Two M-ATV vehicles in the current mobile section; Increment 2.1 is being developed for a single Stryker vehicle
Threat set
Low, slow, small Group 1-3 UAS and one-way attack drones
Sensors
KuMRFS-M or mobile Ku720 radar, electro-optical/infrared camera, direction-finding sensors, and FAAD C2 integration
Kinetic defeat
Coyote interceptors and a 30 mm XM914 chain gun on the RIwP turret
Non-kinetic defeat
SRC electronic-warfare layer, including CUAEWS context in LIDS reporting
Training context
Green Sands counter-UAS training for deploying Base Defense Operations Center crews
Layered Mobile Architecture

M-LIDS is best read as a mobile counter-UAS section rather than a single weapon. The public record separates the system into detection, control, electronic attack, and kinetic defeat layers that can be trained and employed together for base-defense and maneuver protection.

Detection

RTX identifies KuRFS and the mobile Ku720 radar option as the LIDS detect layer, while SRC and Army reporting place radar acquisition and direction-finding sensors in the mobile architecture.

Control

FAAD C2 ties the counter-UAS picture to the engagement process; Green Sands training has included FAAD C2 and base-defense crew tasks for deploying units.

Defeat

Coyote interceptors, the XM914 30 mm chain gun, and SRC electronic warfare give the section missile, gun, and non-kinetic defeat options against small UAS threats.

Variants

Public sources describe M-LIDS as the mobile member of the wider LIDS family and identify Increment 2 and Increment 2.1 as the main mobile configurations now visible in open reporting.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M-LIDS Increment 2Two-vehicle M-ATV mobile section

Leonardo DRS says Increment 2 became an Army ACAT III program of record in March 2022; National Defense and CENTCOM Citadel describe the current mobile system as two M-ATVs that deploy as a pair.

Sources: U.S. Army Taps Leonardo DRS to Provide Additional M-LIDS Counter-UAS Platforms, Army Counter-Drone System Gets Stryking Makeover, M-LIDS provides US Army with mobile protection from drones

M-LIDS Increment 2.1Single Stryker development configuration

National Defense reported that Increment 2.1 is intended to move the same M-LIDS capability from paired M-ATVs onto one Stryker vehicle with a smaller crew.

Sources: Army Counter-Drone System Gets Stryking Makeover

Fixed Site LIDS (FS-LIDS), Fixed-site counter-UAS system, Air DefenseFixed Site LIDS (FS-LIDS)Fixed-site LIDS family member

SRC and RTX describe LIDS as a family that can be configured in fixed-site and mobile forms with shared sensor, command-and-control, electronic-warfare, and Coyote defeat layers.

Sources: LIDS Family of Systems Brochure, Meet the US Army's LIDS: A sure shot against drones

Kinetic Defeat Layer

M-LIDS uses a layered kinetic package rather than relying on a single gun or missile.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Coyote counter-UAS interceptor / drone, Counter-UAS interceptor drone, Air DefenseCoyote counter-UAS interceptor / droneCounter-UAS interceptor

Leonardo DRS says M-LIDS is a two-vehicle capability with kinetic and non-kinetic defeat, and the SRC brochure places Coyote in the mobile LIDS architecture.

Sources: U.S. Army Taps Leonardo DRS to Provide Additional M-LIDS Counter-UAS Platforms, LIDS Family of Systems Brochure

Mobile Coyote launcher system, Mobile Coyote missile launcher vehicle, Air DefenseMobile Coyote launcher systemMobile Coyote launcher vehicle

The linked launcher record covers the M-LIDS kinetic defeat vehicle that carries the Coyote launcher within the mobile LIDS architecture.

Sources: LIDS Family of Systems Brochure, USARCENT Trains Deploying Soldiers in counter-UAS

M230 30 mm chain gun, 30 mm autocannon, Aircraft & UAVsM230 30 mm chain gun30 mm chain gun family

Leonardo DRS identifies the XM914 30 mm cannon on Moog's RIwP turret as part of M-LIDS, and Army ammunition reporting describes M-LIDS as an XM914-equipped ground system.

Sources: U.S. Army Taps Leonardo DRS to Provide Additional M-LIDS Counter-UAS Platforms, NEED FOR SPEED

Sensors And Control

M-LIDS is a system of systems in which radar, command-and-control, and electronic attack cue the defeat layer.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
KuRFS radar, Counter-UAS and counter-RAM radar, Support EquipmentKuRFS radarCounter-UAS radar family

RTX says LIDS uses KuRFS and its mobile Ku720 option for detection, while SRC and Army reporting place KuMRFS-M or radar acquisition inside the M-LIDS architecture.

Sources: Meet the US Army's LIDS: A sure shot against drones, LIDS Family of Systems Brochure, Mastering the skies: First Army advances counter-UAS training

Timeline

Mobile LIDS (M-LIDS) Key Events

  1. Increment 2 becomes a program of record

    Leonardo DRS said the Army identified M-LIDS Increment 2 as an ACAT III program of record and directed accelerated deliveries.

    Sources: U.S. Army Taps Leonardo DRS to Provide Additional M-LIDS Counter-UAS Platforms

  2. USARCENT trains deploying units

    Army Central described M-LIDS as a wheeled counter-UAS vehicle in Green Sands training for soldiers preparing to deploy into the CENTCOM region.

    Sources: USARCENT Trains Deploying Soldiers in counter-UAS

  3. Army details XM914 ammunition work

    DEVCOM AC described M-LIDS as one of the ground systems that needed a compatible 30 mm anti-drone round for the XM914 chain gun.

    Sources: NEED FOR SPEED

  4. CENTCOM Citadel profiles mobile system

    CENTCOM Citadel described M-LIDS as a two-M-ATV mobile counter-drone system with sensors, FAAD C2, Coyote interceptors, CUAEWS, and a 30 mm XM914 chain gun.

    Sources: M-LIDS provides US Army with mobile protection from drones

  5. First Army advances counter-UAS training

    First Army described M-LIDS as a dual-vehicle solution with radar acquisition and electromagnetic warfare capabilities during counter-UAS training at McGregor Range.

    Sources: Mastering the skies: First Army advances counter-UAS training

Media

Mobile LIDS (M-LIDS) Videos

Mobile LIDS (M-LIDS) Images

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Sources