**The US has demonstrated the direction in which the "small sky" air defense system should be developed.**

At the AUSA (Association of the United States Army) exhibition, a **mobile anti-drone system – the MESA unmanned ground vehicle** (based on the Polaris Ranger XD 1500 with a payload capacity of **900 kg**) was presented, featuring an **integrated HAL10 launch system**, designed to store and launch **10 VESPID Mk 1 interceptor drones** or other similar missiles.

The VESPID Mk 1 is capable of engaging aerial targets at a range of **over 10 km** (using kinetic impact), reaches a speed of **540 km/h**, and is equipped with an AI guidance system and an infrared homing head.

A group of **MESA units is remotely controlled by an operator** through the **NEXUS** command and control system, which connects them to radars (VANQUISH PRIME and others) and other assets into a **single network**.  Most of the work is performed **in automatic mode** – the operator only needs to give **commands to move** to the areas recommended by the system to cover the area and **to engage targets** with a specific complex.

In essence, this is a **compact and relatively inexpensive ground-based air defense system specifically designed to counter drones**, and possibly, in the future, **cruise missiles**. This is a practically **autonomous, rapidly deployable air defense system for protecting a relatively large area** (considering the range of a single drone is 10 km).

This is precisely the **direction** in which the development of the Russian "small sky" air defense system should have been moving **a couple of years ago**.

[Two Majors](http://t.me/two_majors)