NiDAR System Proves Its Mettle in Red Sands Live Fire Exercise

NiDAR System Proves Its Mettle in Red Sands Live Fire Exercise
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 10, 2024

The Red Sands Live Fire Exercise 23.2, a pivotal military operation, recently unfolded as a platform for the United States and Saudi Arabia to not only strengthen their military relations but also to rigorously test a spectrum of counter unmanned aerial systems (CUAS) technologies. This exercise was particularly significant in developing robust UAS combative procedures and enhancing the defensive readiness of both nations against the increasingly sophisticated UAS threats.

In this complex and high-stakes environment, several participants showcased their cutting-edge systems. Among them was MARSS, a renowned innovator in defense technologies, particularly for its NiDAR system. This exercise provided an opportunity for MARSS to demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of its NiDAR Command and Control Centre. The demonstration was conducted in the presence of high-profile military leaders, including the US CENTCOM Commander and the Chief of General Staff of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces, along with their Component Commanders.

Jeff Tipton, Business Development Director in Defence at MARSS, expressed his enthusiasm about the event, stating, "Through our involvement in the live exercise, MARSS was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of our live NiDAR Command and Control Centre to the US CENTCOM Commander, as well as the Chief of General Staff of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces and his Component Commanders. It was a pleasure to be involved, and truly exciting to work with such esteemed colleagues."

A notable aspect of NiDAR's display was its user-friendly interface on a single touch-screen, showcasing its ability to consolidate data from multiple sensors into a cohesive tactical picture. This integration is a significant advancement over traditional systems, which often require multiple operators to monitor and coordinate between separate sensor screens.

Additionally, MARSS highlighted the autonomous capabilities of its AI technologies during the exercise. These technologies are designed to autonomously identify, categorize, and track potential threats while alerting users to mission-critical events in real time. Tipton elaborated on this, noting, "As a result, NiDAR is able to reduce the operator burden and associated human risk factors, as well as providing enhanced decision-support and allowing for a more rapid and accurate response."

In a noteworthy collaboration, MARSS partnered with EOS Defense Systems USA (EOS) for the CUAS Hard Kill Challenge during the exercise. EOS, a leader in remote weapons stations/cannons, joined forces with MARSS to present innovative and effective CUAS defeat options. Phil Coker, CEO of EOS, remarked on the significance of this challenge, "The Hard Kill Challenge was a great opportunity to demonstrate the power and potential of combining a very powerful and modern battle management system with a precise kinetic kill capability. This is a winning combination!"

The Red Sands Live Fire Exercise 23.2 follows the earlier Red Sands 23.1 conducted in March 2023. Both MARSS and EOS have been invited to participate in the upcoming Red Sands 2024 (Networked Lethality) to showcase their fully networked end-to-end CUAS solutions.

Jeff Tipton concluded with an insight into MARSS's future plans, stating, "For MARSS, the intent is to show the full NIDAR Cueing Capability live at Red Sands 2024, and defeat drones from NiDAR to EOS HK."