The US Army has outlined new measures its tank commanders should take to defend themselves from drone attacks.
The latest version of the Army’s “Tank Platoon” publication says:
“The platoon should assume they are being observed by enemy reconnaissance and targeting systems, and not assume they are under a protective umbrella of friendly air and missile defense units. UAS is a key threat to the tank platoon’s ability to maneuver. While not all hostile air threats require engagement using air defense measures from air and missile defense units, there is still a requirement to detect, identify, and be prepared to counter and defeat all classes of UASs.”
The publication says tank commanders should appoint air guards to identify drone threats as early as possible.
“Air guards will perform actions such as search and scan techniques for approaching threat UASs while observing their assigned sectors. Air guards should position themselves where they can best observe and more importantly listen for threat UAS. When listening, OPs should exercise noise discipline, ensure all engines are off and remove their headgear to listen. Early warning is the key for air guards since it is their responsibility to alert the formation of any possible air threats. Reporting threat UAS activity should include an estimate of the threat location from the air guard position. The air guard reports the approximate distance, time, duration, size, estimated elevation, and direction the UAS was heading when detected.”
Once a threat is detected the platoon can adopt either “passive” or “active” counter UAS measures.
“Limiting damage and attack avoidance measures are passive defense measures that are used to avoid detection from aerial threats and limit damage if attacked. Platoons must use caution when exercising C-UAS passive measures. Platoon leaders should select positions of advantage that provide concealment for Soldiers, equipment, and unit activities.” Other defensive measures include reducing multiple sets of tracks which leave a large overhead signature, use decoys and deception to set up false locations with smoke to draw attention away from an operation or emitters and emulators to confuse collection activities, the use protective construction and overhead cover to provide damage limiting cover for friendly forces and equipment.
In terms of active defence measures, the manual says platoon leaders should establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for disseminating WCS (weapons control status) and hostile criteria. The platoon leader should consider training forces in the following active measures: define characteristics for threat UAS (factors for defining the characteristics of threat UASs are speed, altitude, location, and heading); develop and transmit WCS (a control measure designed to establish procedures for forces using surface-to-air weapons including small arms weapons; and engaging the threat UAS with small arms using combined arms for air defence firing techniques.
For more information
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN44282-ATP_3-20.15-000-WEB-1.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawLm9rJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFmUkRQcjZKTDluTEVCcHFDAR5hh9Ax
