Counter-Drone Systems Urgently Needed

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

The growing use of unmanned aerial systems in the battleground has led to the development of various innovative counter-drone technologies in order to secure soldiers’ lives.

Leonardo DRS has recently received a contract award from the U.S. Army for up to $16 million, under an urgent operational need, to develop a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capability to protect soldiers from enemy drones.

As the lead systems integrator, Leonardo DRS will work with its teammate, Moog Inc., and additional industry partners to develop this capability, according to the statement on Leonardo’s website.  The C-UAS capability will include Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret, Leonardo DRS’ mast-mounted Surveillance and Battlefield Reconnaissance Equipment – known as SABRE, and other government-provided technologies.  

The technologies will be fully integrated on two MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles for a mobile C-UAS capability designed to detect, identify, track and defeat unmanned aerial threats.

The contract was delivered as part of the Army’s Mobile Low, Slow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defense System, Increment 1 effort and supports near term testing to inform requirements and government decisions for the deployment of numerous production systems in early summer 2018.

“We are proud to support the Army’s urgent requirement to protect soldiers from the growing threats by small unmanned aircraft,” said Aaron Hankins, Vice President and General Manager, DRS Land Systems.  “This effort is a great example of industry collaborating with the Army to quickly provide soldiers with a crucial capability, and we are grateful for the opportunity to lead the effort,” Hankins said.