Xie Hao, Zhai Jiachen, Li Guowen
In modern warfare, the biggest innovation is reflected in weapons and equipment, and the innovation in equipment is concentrated on unmanned equipment, and UAVs can best represent unmanned equipment. Whether it is the Russian-Ukrainian war or the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, according to the battle videos released by all parties, a trend is showing that unmanned equipment represented by drones is playing an increasingly critical role. In particular, the all-rounder role of UAVs can be used for a variety of tasks such as reconnaissance, fire support, air strikes, and air supremacy in combat. Some experts believe that by about 2035, when UAV technology matures and perfects, UAVs will even replace various aircraft and become the main force in future air combat. The importance of UAVs is becoming more and more prominent, and naturally, the anti-UAV C-UAV equipment system is becoming more and more important and necessary! Recently, the Bullfrog Gun Turret system developed by Allen Control Systems has become a key object of attention in the T-REX 24-2 military technology key demonstration and evaluation platform cooperated by the United States and India. What are the advantages of the bullfrog anti-drone system, which is claimed to be combined with advanced technologies such as computer vision and artificial intelligence? What impact will its emergence have on modern coordinated operations?
▲Figure 1 A Ukrainian suicide drone in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
1. Bullfrog's hunting methods - strong and precise
The main lethal equipment of the Bullfrog system is a 7.62mm M240 machine gun, which is not comparable to some anti-drone equipment that has been put into use in the Russian-Ukrainian war, such as the MSI-DS "Earth Eagle Knight" system provided by the United Kingdom for Ukraine equipped with one Mk44 "Big Viper" II 30mm machine gun, or the Vampire (VAMPIRE) anti-drone system provided by the United States to Ukraine equipped with four 70mm APKWS rockets or similar laser-guided munitionsHowever, compared to the 1-3 level UAV as the main target, such as the "Skywiper" (Skywiper) EDM4S anti-drone rifle and other man-portable equipment that uses electromagnetic waves to achieve damage effects, the 7.62mm M240 machine gun can definitely be regarded as heavy firepower. You must know that according to the standards of the US Department of Defense, military drones are divided into 5 levels according to the combination of mass, flight altitude and airspeed. Level 3 UAVs refer to UAVs weighing less than 600 kg, flying at an altitude of less than 5,500 meters, and having an airspeed of less than 463 km/h, while Level 1 and Level 2 have smaller parameters in all aspects. Therefore, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd levels are also known as "Small Unmanned Aerial System" (SUAS, Small Unmanned Aerial System), with the strong lethality and penetration of 7.62mm bullets, as long as a few shots are hit, it is undoubtedly fatal for small UAVs. And under the powerful firepower of the M240, small UAVs can be described as having nothing to hide.
Not only that, but in addition to intensive fire, the targeting of the Bullfrog anti-drone system is quite accurate. Unlike conventional anti-drone systems, the Bullfrog system is not equipped with information equipment in the traditional active identification mode, such as radar, but integrates the system with the command through the Fire Control Software (Fire Control Software) specially developed by ACS, and uses a passive detection system to identify and strike at the target. While achieving precision, it can also avoid self-exposure, so as to suppress the designated target airspace for a long time and seize low-altitude air supremacy.
With the two characteristics of strength and precision, the bullfrog system is like a frog guarding a rice field, which can truly provide a strong and powerful anti-drone combat environment for units on the ground.
▲Figure 2 The Bullfrog anti-drone system is carrying out fire strikes on the target
Second, the bullfrog's flexibility - light and integrable
As a remote-controlled machine gun turret, the Bullfrog system is designed with special attention to lightness and integration. The turret is extremely lightweight, less than 400 pounds (about 180 kg), which makes it not only convenient for rapid deployment and mobile operations, but also easy to mount on a variety of platforms, including but not limited to vehicles, stationary facilities, or temporary defense points. This lightness significantly increases the flexibility and adaptability of the Bullfrog system, allowing it to respond quickly to changes in the battlefield and quickly move to areas that need to be strengthened.
Another key feature of the Bullfrog system is its high level of integration. It can be seamlessly integrated with existing command and control systems, radars, and other sensor systems to form a unified defense network. This integration capability allows the Bullfrog system to receive target information from different sources, enabling more efficient target identification and engagement decisions. At the same time, the Bullfrog system operates with an operating voltage of 24V direct current, which complies with NATO standards, further simplifying the process of integration with existing military vehicles and systems.
Figure 3 Integration of the Bullfrog anti-UAV system with other equipment
With this lightweight and integrable design, the Bullfrog system is able to provide a flexible, efficient, and easy-to-deploy anti-drone capability for the modern battlefield, greatly enhancing the defense capabilities of ground forces in the face of the growing threat of drones.
3. The autonomous consciousness of bullfrogs - autonomous and intelligent
According to ACS, the operation of the bullfrog is highly integrated with advanced technologies such as computer vision and artificial intelligence, integrating highly intelligent and autonomous functions. The Bullfrog system achieves autonomous detection, identification, and neutralization capabilities against enemy UAVs through advanced algorithms and software support. Compared with traditional anti-drone systems, the Bullfrog system does not rely on active sensors such as radar, but uses passive detection technology, which not only reduces the risk of exposure of the system and improves survivability, but also lays the foundation for its autonomous operation. The autonomy of the Bullfrog system is also reflected in its ability to independently complete the entire process from target detection to firing decisions. The system utilizes proprietary control algorithms and software to solve multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) optimization problems, with the ability to consider multiple sensor inputs and actuator outputs simultaneously for more accurate target tracking. In addition, the Bullfrog system's fire control software supports human-in-the-loop and human-on-the-loop control modes, ensuring operational safety and compliance, while allowing the system to make autonomous decisions when necessary, as well as ensuring controllability.
In terms of intelligence, the first is the application of machine learning algorithms in recognition, and the reason why it is so accurate is because it aims to verify the visual inspection system of the filing cabinet with millions of images. The intelligence of the Bullfrog system is also reflected in its predictive shooting function, which is able to predict whether a shot will hit a target before firing, or determine whether it is feasible to track a specific target in the current situation. This capability significantly improves the combat efficiency and accuracy of the system, reducing miscalculations and wasted resources.
The level of autonomy and intelligence of the Bullfrog system allows it to effectively counter small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) on the modern battlefield, providing ground units with an innovative and efficient means of counter-UAV warfare. Through its autonomy and intelligent decision-making capabilities, the Bullfrog system is able to achieve rapid response and precision strikes against enemy UAVs, thereby fighting for air supremacy in low airspace and providing solid air defense for ground forces.
▲Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the bullfrog anti-drone system to seek the enemy
Fourth, the change and reflection brought about by the bullfrog system
The reason why the bullfrog system is called a revolution is because it realizes the vitality of unmanned fighting and unmanned protection of people with unmanned equipment. You must know that unmanned equipment such as drones, although it can complete a variety of tasks, but the most valuable thing is to strike at the enemy's sound force. In modern warfare, the lethality of weapons and equipment is increasing, and preserving one's own vital forces and killing and injuring the enemy to the greatest extent has become the most crucial strategic objective. The emergence of unmanned equipment that has already emerged with a sense of independence and autonomy has, to a certain extent, foreshadowed the basic combat mode and form of unmanned warfare in the future.
On the one hand, it is necessary to see the new ideas and new directions for the development of equipment brought about by it; On the other hand, when there is a lethal weapon in the equipment of a machine with a certain degree of autonomy, such as AI, it is still a question mark whether it can ensure that its muzzle will always be towards the enemy.
Figure 5 Unmanned battlefield concept