The U.S. Marines are going to get new gear that Milsim players would wish they could have in long range and long weekend milsim events, a new and improved intrusion detector. The Magnetic Intrusion Detector II (MAGID II), can detect vehicles and rifle-sized targets that are within its electromagnetic fields.

Easier for the Marines to use and harder for the enemy to spot, the MAGID II gets fielded six months ahead of schedule. It is multi-directional, meaning that it can detect movements in all directions, unlike the previous gear which was only unidirectional, or only able to detect movements in its line of sight. Also, it is much lighter to carry as it is half the size, about one-third lighter, and more energy efficient than its predecessor, in this news report posted at the Marine Corps website:

“We fielded the MAGID II early to Marine Corps intelligence squadrons,” said John Covington, project officer for the Tactical Remote Sensor System in MCSC’s Marine Intelligence program office. MAGID II is part of the Corps’ Unattended Ground Sensor Set, a Tactical Remote Sensor System component. “The new device is 50 percent smaller, 33 percent lighter and uses 32 percent less energy than its predecessor. The modernized MAGID provides not only target detection and direction information, but also magnetic disturbance readout, indicating the size of the target.”

Photo: Preparing the ground sernsors by a radio operator from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit ground sensor platoon

Covington also added that the MAGID II works with other USGS devices such that detect seismic, acoustic and infrared activity. These devices allow continuous surveillance and giving better situational awareness for operational leaders with lesser personnel as compared to the previous system.

With less people to man the more accurate intrusion detection system, this means that Marines will be able to avoid fair fights, and making it more an unequal battles with them having an advantage with the information they have on enemy movements.