CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing activated a new air defense battery on November 18, 2022, as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize its existing ground-based air defense capabilities to continue responsibly modernizing the force.
Charlie Battery, which belongs to 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 38, increases 3rd MAW’s ground-based air defense weapon systems and capabilities. The activation demonstrates the Marine Corps’ investment in growing the ground-based air defense community.
“The Charlie Battery activation is another piece to the pie of modernizing the force to meet future threats.”
-Maj. Crispus M. Kimani, operations officer for 3rd LAAD Battalion
The unit’s activation sets the foundation for the arrival of Marine Air Defense Integrated System Increment 1 to the battalion. This system modernizes the existing ground-based air defense capabilities by mounting a mix of legacy and emerging technologies and capabilities onto the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The new capabilities will help the unit mitigate the threat from unmanned aerial systems, fixed, and rotary-wing aircraft.
Once fully equipped, the new unit will have the MADIS, FIM-92 Stinger missiles, and a kinetic remote weapon system designed to counter adversary unmanned aerial systems. The remote weapon system, an organic RPS-62 RADAR, provides additional capabilities, including multi-function electronic warfare and significant command and control improvements.
“The Charlie Battery activation is another piece to the pie of modernizing the force to meet future threats,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Crispus M. Kimani, operations officer for 3rd LAAD Battalion. “It increases air defense capacity within the Marine Expeditionary Force.”
Activating Charlie Battery and integrating new technologies, including the MADIS, enables 3rd LAAD to detect, track, identify, and defeat aerial threats. Additionally, the new capabilities will enable expeditionary counter-unmanned aerial systems operations in austere and isolated environments.
Story by 2nd Lt Andrew Baez, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Photo by Cpl Sean Potter