Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Army tested the company's integrated air and missile defense Battle Command System against cruise missiles in a demonstration.

During the test, the IAMD Battle Command System (IBCS) used tracking data provided by Sentinel and Patriot radars to intercept cruise missile targets. The test validated the system's ability to engage and defeat targets using sensors and an interceptor for different air defense systems. Company officials are calling it a milestone achievement.

"The technical challenge of integrating sensors and shooters that were never designed to work together -- breaking them from existing systems into components for networking -- is tremendous," Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager, integrated air and missile defense division, Northrop Grumman Information Systems said in a statement. "With the successful intercept, the Army and Northrop Grumman team continues to show how IBCS is a paradigm-shifting system of systems for air and missile defense."

During the test, two Sentinel radars and one Patriot radar were integrated to the IBCS. The systems were able to work with one another, identifying incoming targets as the IBCS launched PAC-3 interceptor missiles to destroy targets.

The IBCS provides warfighters with a command-and-control system showing a single view of the battlespace. enhancing aircraft and missile tracking for combatants. The modular open systems allow users to integrate "any sensor" to the design.

"The IBCS gives warfighters the advantage of expanded sensor and weapon system combinations and enables a component-based acquisition approach," Verwiel added.