October 22, 2005: The U.S. Department of Defense has run successful tests of forthe Close-In Countermeasure system (CICS), while operating ona M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The system consists of a passive sensor (that constantly scans a 180 degree arc) and two barrels that fire 55 steel pellets at any incoming missile or PRG rocket. Once detected, the system quickly swivels to get the barrels into the best position to intercept the incoming object. CICS has been tested successfully on a stationary and moving M-2 vehicle. Systems like CICS are not new, Russia has had them for over a decade. But the United States was not satisfied with the accuracy and reliability of the Russian equipment. Moreover, the Russian systems have not had any combat experience.Indeed, no system of this type has yet performed under fire. Until they do, there will be reluctance to implement these systems in a large way. The CICS, once it achieves a sufficient level of reliability and accuracy, could be mounted on trucks, as well as armored vehicles. One draw back with CICS is "friendly fire." The steel pellets that miss the incoming missile, are going to hit something (like friendly troops or, more likely, civilians.) But the type of fighting in Iraq has shown a need for something like CICS, and the vehicle crew can simply keep their CICS turned off when they go through areas populated by lots of friendly civilians.