Why should we be more worried now than ever about the emerging threat from drone attacks? Stephen Scott, Head of R&D (Defense) at technology company MARSS summarizes the increasing challenges posed by weaponized unmanned aerial systems (UAS). To address their proliferation and rapidly advancing capabilities, he proposes more agile and cooperative approaches to developing and deploying counter-UAS measures. January’s drone attack on an oil storage site near Abu Dhabi Airport in UAE, for which Houthi forces in Yemen claimed responsibility, was another wake-up call. It highlighted what UAS can already do when in malevolent hands.
The level of UAS technology available to hostile forces is growing rapidly – and so is the range of potential users. While conflicts in the Middle East are driving this trend, it will undoubtedly spread to Europe, America and other continents. Militant political parties and separatists may be amongst the next adopters.
A new technology race
Small drones are readily available to all via hobbyist suppliers. They are simple to weaponize by loading with an improvised explosive device (IED) or with grenades or mortars. Groups can now also easily buy specialized GPS systems, control electronics, high-powered batteries and other components to build larger and more capable UAS. Those with state sponsorship may benefit from military-grade technology, delivering much more reliable UAS performance and impact. Ranges have increased from 40 minutes to 7 hours, while speeds can reach 450 mph.
UAS components are easy to smuggle into countries and assemble on-site, closer to their targets. As UAS become quicker and cheaper to build, and their reliability continues to improve, the volume of attacks is increasing. Saturation attacks, where large numbers of UAS approach a target simultaneously, will add further to the difficulty for defenders. There is also potential for true ‘swarming’, in which drones coordinate with each other. Meanwhile, we expect to see hostile UAS becoming more effective through greater intelligence, independent navigation, jamming resistance, more sophisticated weaponry, larger size and reusability.
We are in a continuous race to ensure that UAS counter measures stay ahead of these developments. How feasible this is depends not only on the speed of technological advancement but on cost. The conventional strategy of using expensive missiles to shoot down much cheaper UAS certainly has economic limitations.
Faster progress
Fundamentally, the threat should be countered by combining surveillance and intelligence platforms with electronic jamming and kinetic counter measures. To achieve a rapid pace of technological evolution in such systems, developers should be free to respond with speed and agility to changing circumstances and needs. Traditionally, large defense companies have tended to be locked into lengthy development and procurement cycles, governed by national budgets and slow political processes. This makes it difficult to be responsive. Smaller businesses, with fewer constraints, can help the industry in this respect.
Another factor which may obstruct rapid progress is the bias of some large companies toward selling their own hardware. Developers should have the flexibility to draw on a range of manufacturers and partners for whatever sensors, cameras, radar equipment and other products will currently best serve each system. This not only speeds up the development and deployment of systems but makes them futureproof. Specialisms in system integration, software and command and control technology are crucial to bringing all the elements together quickly and effectively.
When choosing a C-UAS system to meet the latest and upcoming UAS threats, buyers should question its stage of evolution. Not all systems on the market have actually been operationally deployed. Even fewer have been operationally proven. These are important differences.
Every day brings the release of a new C-UAS system or the enhancement of an existing system; we discuss a variety of new kinetic-based systems in this feature.
MARSS C-UAS System
MARSS offer a C-UAS surveillance and intelligence platform which fills the previously vulnerable gap in defense between spot protection and the next level. Its defensive radius of 25+ km is at the top end for this type of system. Beyond 25 km, it integrates with national or other wider-scale systems focusing on ballistic attacks and fighter aircraft at higher altitudes and speeds.
A modular and agnostic architecture enables quick installation and integration with existing sensors and equipment at any location. It also makes the system easily scalable. Whether fixed or vehicle-based, it can be supplied as a complete, ready-to-operate, turnkey solution meeting every need, with all components and services in place. Alternatively, it can be installed and integrated within the customer’s larger control and command center.
An additional benefit is the user-friendliness of its operator interface. With familiar smartphone-like features, its functions are highly intuitive and its information is presented graphically for easy understanding. This reduces the amount of training needed, and hence its expense. It also greatly lowers the cognitive burden on operators, so errors are less likely.
From its usability to its advanced capabilities, flexibility, rapid deployment and field-proven reliability, this unique all-round solution ticks every box.
UAS interception – going one step further
The latest kinetic UAS counter measure which MARSS can integrate with its surveillance and intelligence platform is an AI-enabled autonomous interceptor. Nothing like it has ever been seen before. This benign solution permanently disables category 1 and 2 UAS at a much lower cost per defeat than a single-use explosive missile. It physically damages the target but without use of a warhead, so collateral damage is minimized.
Delivered via a specialized UAS, its high speed, dynamic movement, lightweight but durable design and high intelligence are more than a match for those of enemy drones. The intelligent combined system uses image processing and machine learning to identify targets reliably. The UAS can turn around and disable several drones in one flight. Against category 1 drones, it returns undamaged for reuse. When disabling larger category 2 drones, it may be destroyed in the process – but its loss is still much less costly than use of a missile.
There are alternative products on the market which have been designed to collide with drones but these can only be used against smaller UAS, and even then they do not survive the encounter. Their range is around 1 km, compared to interceptor’s 7 km, and they are much slower.
Inherently safer than a conventional weapon, the new solution’s software places strict controls on who can use it, against what, and where, when and how. In short, it cannot be misused. Crucially, it dependably identifies non-targets – especially manned aircraft – and will autonomously abort actions mistakenly taken by operators against them. A key benefit is that it can be deployed and operated without the need for a military presence.
Cooperation to stay ahead
Rather than responding reactively to each new challenge posed by malicious users of evolving UAS technology, we should ideally be proactive. To keep at least one step ahead of them, our defense systems need to evolve more rapidly. As MARSS has demonstrated, this is easier and faster to achieve when we work in partnership rather than competition.
In March MARSS launched a game-changer for the C-UAS market. “The growing threat [of UAS], coupled with our lack of dependable, networked capabilities to counter them, is the most concerning tactical development since the rise of the improvised explosive device in Iraq.” Major General Sean Gainey, Director, Joint C-UAS Office.
Live from the inaugural World Defense Show in Saudi today, defense & security technology specialist MARSS, launched its latest, never seen before, UAS countermeasure. Combining operational experience and innovation, MARSS has created an AI enabled autonomous interceptor that offers an intelligent, cost-effective and low collateral solution to neutralise hostile drones. Fully integrated with NiDAR CUAS, this high-speed craft is capable of defeating category I & II drones head on from up to 5km+.
Using a range of sensors to accurately detect, verify and respond to UAS threats, NiDAR C4i Operators can launch this new, incredibly agile system to defeat fast, high manoeuvring targets head on.
Stephen Scott, Head of R&D for Defense at the company, commented, “There is no doubt that UAS threats are ever evolving and proliferating in today’s battlefield. Their autonomous nature, flight capability and payload ensure higher levels of operational efficiency and target devastation. Their significance has led to changes in warfare tactics and the shaping of geo-political events. Recent history has demonstrated C-UAS system providers must continuously develop new solutions to keep ahead of the threat, with speed, responsiveness and agility being key. As hostile drones get smarter and more capable, the methods used to defeat them must do the same. Meeting this need requires a new level of thinking. And that is why we have innovated to build a more intelligent, cost-effective solution – an AI enabled autonomous interceptor, that we believe will disrupt and dictate the future of the C-UAS market.”
The MARSS interceptor has broader application potential within the C-UAS market, providing intelligent protection for land, maritime and critical infrastructure. It’s an inherently safer approach that can be deployed across military and civil structures.
NiDAR 4D Layered Protection
NiDAR 4D provides a full end to end protective chain against UxS, integrating several sensors and effectors, optimizing their interoperability and performance. Beginning with detection, the UxS is discovered, its intent is verified using NiDAR AI and the operator is alerted with decision support on how best to respond with countermeasures. As NiDAR 4D is sensor agnostic, each component is selected from MARSS qualified supply chain and integrated based on customer requirements.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Kord team-up
In May 22 Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Kord teamed-up to defeat multiple mortars and large drones with Stryker-mounted high-energy laser. In four weeks of continuous live-fire exercises, an industry team led by Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, and Kord, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBR, defeated multiple 60mm mortar rounds with a 50kW-class high energy laser integrated on a Stryker combat vehicle.
The directed energy weapon system — part of the U.S. Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD — acquired, tracked, targeted and defeated multiple mortars and successfully accomplished multiple tests simulating real-world scenarios. Continuing to put the DE M-SHORAD system to the test, the recent operational assessment at White Sands Missile Range also included defeating several small, medium and large drones.
“Soldiers in the field face increasingly complex threats, and our combat-proven sensors, software, and lasers are ready to give them a new level of protection,” said Annabel Flores, president of Electronic Warfare Systems for Raytheon Intelligence & Space. “The Army gave us our toughest challenge yet — countering rockets, artillery and mortars — and we took an essential step on the path to providing the maneuverable, short range air defense Soldiers need.”
The DE M-SHORAD effort is aimed at protecting soldiers against various aerial threats, including unmanned aircraft systems, rotary-wing aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars. Kord serves as the primary integrator of the system on the Stryker combat vehicle, while Raytheon Intelligence & Space provides the 50kW-class high energy laser weapon module, a specialized radar acquisition system, a beam control system and targeting sensor.
“This team once again showed that the HEL system is fully-integrated and ready to provide protection against complex threats,” said Byron Bright, President of KBR Government Solutions. “With an effectively infinite magazine and near-zero cost per shot, HEL is now the proven answer to asymmetric threats like drones and mortars.”
The joint industry team, which includes Rocky Research for power and thermal management, General Dynamics Land Systems for the Stryker platform, and Applied Technology Associates for additional sensors, is preparing to deliver four DE M-SHORAD units to Army Brigade Combat Teams in 2022.
RI&S’ high energy laser weapon systems, built in McKinney, Texas, works on land, in the air and at sea, providing 360-degree coverage that can protect bases, airports, stadiums and other high-value military or civilian assets. Open architecture, scalable power, and ruggedized design adapts to the demands of the mission. HEL weapons can be used as standalone systems or rapidly installed on a variety of platforms. Major suppliers for the system are based in Huntsville, Alabama; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; East Granby, Connecticut; and Los Angeles, California.
Northrop Grumman Tremor Counter-UAS system with the EchoGuard radar
Northrop Grumman has developed two new 30mm air burst rounds for use on its 30mm canon range including the Bushmaster 44. The Tremor system consists of a master radar truck linked to a battery of six further trucks with the 30mm canon mounted on an Overhead Weapon Station with an EOS EO/IR systems and our EchoGuard radar. The master radar truck acquires multiple UAS target and passes them to one of the trucks where the EchoGuard radar locks on and tracks the target before handing over to the EO/IR system. The canon is slaved on to the target and destroys it with one hit at up to 1.4 km range.
EchoShield operates in the Ku band, with RadioLocation service at 15.7-16.6 GHz and RadioNavigation at 15.4-15.7 GHz, and is commercially exportable to many countries under US EAR regulations. Its features include:
*130° azimuth x 90° elevation field of regard (fully customizable)
*0.5° tracking accuracy in azimuth and elevation, with very low track splitting/dropping
*Powerful UAV classification with low false-alarms and near-zero false-negatives
*Cognitive search capabilities integrate onboard or offboard data
*Average tracking ranges for counter-UAS mission:
*Group 1 (-20 to -10 dBsm): 2.7 to 4.8 km
*Group 2 (-10 to -5 dBsm): 4.8 to 6.4 km
*Group 3 (-5 to 5 dBsm): 6.4 to 11.4 km
ECS-TCI Claw Directional Inhibitor
The Claw Directional Inhibitor is a self-contained inhibitor system that combines the RF power electronics with a high-gain multi-band directional antenna system The Claw Inhibitor comprises of dual mast-mount units covering the 433MHz, GNSS, 915MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz ISM frequency bands with RF output powers to the antennas of up to 83w. With an aggregated RF output power to the antenna of up to 150w The Claw system disrupts the control, navigation and telemetry used by UAS and can be customised for end-user requirements.
The Claw System comprises the following: Directional antenna enclosures Two SDR directional inhibitor units Either 2 AC, or 1 DC Power Supply Units.
“The combination of TCI and ECS allows the combined entity to develop systems to command the spectrum to allow the passive location and destruction of every type of drone from the errant user thru the surveillance user to the weaponized drone. We can offer our customers a range of C-UAS systems from passive RF systems thru those with an EO/IR system and radar to allow long-range location and kinetic systems to destroy weaponized drones before they reach their target. We have already identified other acquisition targets to allow SPX to offer a complete C-UAS system from one source.” Jackson White said.
“The open architecture plug and play design of Claw enables customers to tailor make their requirements to suit the perceived threat level prior to deployment or in theatre. These requirements range from a number of kinetic defeat systems to radars and EW systems.” Jackson White continued.
Thales and CS GROUP PARADE system
On April 29th the French defence procurement has officially notified Thales and CS GROUP to develop PARADE drone countermeasures system. A consortium led by Thales and CS GROUP was notified by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) to develop and deliver the PARADE1 drone countermeasures programme capability, with firm commitments for €33m out of a total programme budget of €350m over 11 years. The modular, multi-mission PARADE system will detect, classify and safely neutralise micro- and mini-drones either to protect sensitive sites on a temporary basis or as part of overseas deployments abroad. The PARADE system will reinforce public safety and protect infrastructure at two major sporting events in France: the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Thales and, CS GROUP are working with their partners in France and Europe’s defence industrial and technological base on are developing the PARADE programme capability to provide permanent deployable protection for critical infrastructure from drone threats. The programme follows an open competition contract was awarded after a European competitive tendering process launched by the DGA in 2021 to strengthen the drone countermeasures (counter-UAV) capabilities of the French armed forces.
Millions of new drones will enter the skies over the next 20 years, creating an extremely complex aviation ecosystem and raising significant safety and security challenges. To address this constantly evolving threat environment, the consortium led by Thales and CS GROUP will provide a scalable, modular, multi-mission drone countermeasures system to protect people, fixed military sites or facilities deployed abroad. The system can also be used by the armed forces to help protect events, people and civil and military infrastructure, in particular during large gatherings. PARADE will be a modular, multi-mission system that can be deployed by the armed forces on a temporary basis to protect a fixed site or as part of military operations overseas.
Drone countermeasures are a priority for the French government as the preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics continue. The partnership between Thales, a recognised player in civil and military air operations for over 40 years, and CS GROUP, an integrator of critical drone countermeasures systems in France, is an integral part offully aligned with the missions conducted under the country’s special air security arrangements (DPSA2) designed to provide enhanced protection during sensitive events. PARADE will provide additional detection and response capabilities for the DPSA, improving security for two forthcoming international sporting events due to take place in France: ? – the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games – for which drone countermeasures are a government priority.
The contract initially first order calls for the acquisition of six PARADE drone countermeasures systems. With contributions from French SMEs such as CerbAir, Exavision and MC2 Technologies, as well as the Dutch company Robin, the PARADE system will provide decision support and, analysis of complex situations and the capability to neutralise micro-drones and mini-drones. The programme contract also includes operator training and system/ and equipment maintenance and upgrades. The PARADE system provides permanent 360° site protection and is designed for easy transport from one site to another by road, air or sea, considerably increasing its scope of use and speed of deployment. The first PARADE systems will be delivered to the DGA within a year of the launch of the programme.
As an expert in air supremacy, Thales offers integrated solutions to protect airspace, citizens and infrastructure, and will draw on its experience as a systems integrator and its know-how in air defence, cybersecurity and digital architectures. CS GROUP is a pioneer in drone countermeasures and has deployed operational solutions to meet civilian as well as military requirements since 2016. The company develops modular, scalable, interoperable, cybersecure systems built around a command and control capability that uses artificial intelligence and data fusion technologies to provide a clearer understanding of this constantly evolving threat.
The PARADE system provides permanent 360° site protection and is designed for easy transport from one site to another by road, air or sea, considerably increasing its scope of use and speed of deployment. This solution could also be used for combined civil-military operations, for example to protect critical infrastructure such as military bases in France or in overseas theatres of operations.
The first PARADE systems will be delivered to the DGA within a year of the launch of the programme.
“Thales’s drone countermeasures solutions ensure safety and security at all levels of military and civil airspace. The expertise and experience of our industry ecosystem and our partnerships with French SMEs offer real opportunities for us to innovate and further enhance our value proposition. The consortium led by Thales and CS GROUP enables us to offer a drone countermeasures solution that meets the requirements of the DGA and the French armed forces and ensures the highest level of safety and security for people in large gatherings.” Thomas Got, Managing Director, Integrated Airspace Protection Systems, Thales.
“CS GROUP has been involved in drone countermeasures for over eight years and actively monitors the latest technological advances in order to respond effectively to the evolving drone threat and meet the related operational requirements, from large-scale event security to counterterrorism and protection for troops on overseas deployments abroad. The partnership between CS GROUP and Thales provides a comprehensive vision of air security at all levels to guarantee permanent situational awareness and determine the best way to respond to threats. We are very proud that our consortium has been selected for the PARADE programme and that our solution will be helping to keep people safe at major events.” Marie de Saint Salvy, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, CS Group.
1 PARADE: Programme de protection Protection déployAble modulaiRe Anti-DronEs / Deployable, modular anti-drone countermeasures programme protection
2 DPSA: Dispositif Particulier de Sureté Aérienne/special air security arrangements
HELWS taps NASAMS air defence system to destroy drones
In April a live-fire exercise demonstrated that HELWS can be paired with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S) has conducted a capability demonstration of its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) at White Sands, in the US. The live-fire exercise demonstrated that HELWS can be paired with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to destroy a swarm of drone targets.
The laser weapon system obtained cues from the NASAMS Fire Distribution Centre, and then leveraged an array of sensors to track, identify, and engage drones at tactically relevant distances. The HELWS destroyed nine Group one and Group two drones over the White Sands Missile Range.
Multiple US military and civilian agencies, as well as defence ministry officials of allied countries, attended the demonstration.
RI&S Electronic Warfare Systems president Annabel Flores said, “Drone threats are particularly dangerous in any environment, from soccer stadiums to battlefields, because they’re not easy to spot and take down. We’re showing the world that our defensive laser weapons can plug into existing air defences to find and drop drones in the blink of an eye.”
Jointly developed by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the NASAMS medium-range air defence solution includes the Sentinel radar, Fire Distribution Centre, and a suite of effectors.
Raytheon expects that the addition of NASAMS to the list of systems that HELWS already uses will enable the company to offer an air defence system that can protect against uncrewed aircraft threats.
According to a company statement, RI&S’ laser weapon systems are manufactured in Texas, and can work on land, in the air, and at sea.
RI&S is a Raytheon Technologies business. It develops advanced sensors, cyber services, and software solutions. Last year, RI&S secured a contract for the mobile sensor operations and maintenance services of the Cobra King radar system. (Source: army-technology.com)
US Special Operations Command picks Anduril
In January it was announced that US Special Operations Command had picked Anduril to lead counter-drone integration work in $1bn deal. U.S. Special Operations Command has picked California-based Anduril Industries to lead its counter-drone systems integration work in a $1bn deal, according to a contract announcement and company statement.
As the integration partner, “Anduril will deliver, advance and sustain [counter-unmanned systems] capabilities for special operations forces wherever they operate,” the Jan. 24 company statement read. Anduril’s family of systems designed to counter drone threats is run by the Lattice operating system and includes its Sentry tower and the small unmanned aerial system Anvil. The system also brings in ‘best-of-breed’ third-party sensors and effectors “for a layered defensive approach,” according to the company.
The Lattice system is able to provide autonomous detection, classification and tracking of targets at the edge of the battlefield and alerts users to the detected threats. It also prompts users with solutions to engage and destroy the threats, the company described. The Sentry tower is comprised of an onboard radar and optical sensors within embedded computing cores that can process data through machine-learning algorithms to detect, identify and track threats.
Anduril said it will deliver capability through ‘traditional means,’ but will also deploy the capability as a service and configure the system to carry out specific missions as threats evolve or new threats emerge. And under the contract, it must design, prototype and develop new counter-UAS technology.
“Anduril’s software-first approach and its open and interoperable Lattice operating system enables sensor modularity and massive scalability,” the statement said. “As the SIP, Anduril will maintain continuous system updates, develop and deploy new capability, and integrate best-in-class third-party sensors and effectors, future-proofing deployed systems at no additional cost to the customer.”
Under the SOCOM contract, Anduril will perform the work both within and outside of the continental United States. The contract is expected to be completed by Jan. 19, 2032, according to the Defense Department contract announcement.
Eleven other proposals were received in response to a publicly posted SIP, or system integration partner, prototype opportunity notice.
The company has other contracts within the Defense Department and with other national security-related customers.
Anduril has also adapted existing technology developed for base and border protection over the course of 11 months so it could detect another major threat: cruise missiles. The company demonstrated the capability at the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System demonstration in 2021 using autonomous Cruise Missile Defense Sentry Towers. The towers were integrated into the company’s Lattice open-platform command-and-control system like they are for the c-UAS capability.
Anduril also grew its capability portfolio in April 2021 with the acquisition of Area-I, a Georgia-based, air-launched effects company, with plans to incorporate its mission autonomy and intelligent teaming technology into Area-I’s unmanned systems. (Source: Defense News)
Laser weapons against drones – Rheinmetall conducts successful trials for the Bundeswehr
Rheinmetall has successfully tested the technology demonstrator version of a laser weapon built on behalf of the German Bundeswehr. The first trials with the laser testbed were conducted at Rheinmetall’s proving ground in Unterlüß as part of a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) campaign.
The laser testbed serves not only as a technology demonstrator laser weapon, but also as the basis for future R&D work at Unterlüß in Lower Saxony. It is designed so that all components of a future laser weapon system can be examined modularly. Every interface to the sensors – the radar, for example – or to the energy supply and laser source are “open” designs. This makes it possible to test every conceivable combination iteratively and then to compare the results.
The objective of current studies in the laser testbed is to produce a suitable configuration for a mobile technology demonstrator with a laser output of over 10 kW for integration into a Boxer fighting vehicle by the end of 2022.
At present, the laser testbed consists entirely of subassemblies made by Rheinmetall. But open interface architecture makes it possible to integrate and test components from other manufacturers also.
The laser testbed consists of a 20-foot container divided into three compartments: laser, operator and infrastructure. Encompassing five 2 kW-fibre laser modules, the laser source is installed in the laser compartment. Bundled via spectral coupling, the individual laser modules achieve a total output of 10 kW, producing excellent beam quality. Rough orientation of the laser weapon station is based on data from the suite of electro-optical sensors in the weapon station. This is ready to operate around the clock. For fine tracking, the reflection of the target irradiated by the illumination laser is evaluated in the beam guidance system and transformed into corresponding guidance signals for tracking the target. Furthermore, under conditions of functional safety, all subassemblies necessary for target engagement, e.g., beam status monitoring and target point control, were achieved for the first time within the optical beam path.
During the C-UAS campaign conducted in Unterlüß, a variety of drone types were optically tracked and neutralized at ranges of engagement of up to one kilometre.
The results obtained were more than satisfactory. A demonstration was subsequently carried out in compliance with corona safety measures at Unterlüß for representatives of the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-service Support. The outcome met the expectations of all participants.
NATO trials Dstl standard for counter-drone systems.
In January NATO trialled Dstl standard for counter-drone systems. SAPIENT successfully facilitated more than 70 connections between systems during technical interoperability exercise, leading to widespread industry adoption. Originally developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Innovate UK, SAPIENT is an open software architecture that helps different sensors, interfaces and decision-making modules work together with little or no software engineering, and can improve efficiency through use of autonomy.
With the misuse of small, widely available drones representing a significant and growing risk to operations and day-to-day defence activity, NATO is working with industry to develop capabilities to counter this threat, and in November 2021 undertook a trial of various counter-drone technologies and systems. The counter-uncrewed air system technical interoperability exercise (C-UAS TIE 21) included testing SAPIENT’s Interface Control Document (ICD) as a candidate draft standard for counter-drone systems.
During the demanding air defence exercise, SAPIENT proved highly successful in providing the standard for underlying information exchange.
It enabled more than 70 connections between counter-UAS (uncrewed air systems) and Command and Control (C2) systems. It also facilitated 17 advanced autonomous sensor modules (ASM) from different vendors to connect to 7 decision-making modules (DSM). Impressively, in some cases this connection was completely plug-and-play, achieving zero-second integration time.
As a result, many suppliers of counter-drone technology have now adopted the SAPIENT standard. It has already been adopted by MOD as the standard for counter-UAS technology.
David Lugton, Dstl Project Technical Authority for counter-UAS systems, said, “NATO TIE adds to the recent success of the SAPIENT deployment at Contested Urban Environment 2021 and builds on its adoption in the UK MOD C-sUAS Strategy. The widespread voluntary adoption of SAPIENT by industry across NATO was highly impressive, paves the way to an open commercial market of SAPIENT compliant C-UAS components and places the architecture as a crucial enabler as the demand for rapid C-UAS interoperability increases across the NATO nations.”
By providing a common standard for interfacing sensing, effector, fusion and C2 element, SAPIENT facilitates the use of autonomy and reduces the workload on operators. And by using the openly-available SAPIENT Interface Control Document, suppliers and partners can ensure they develop compatible modules, making integrations between systems quick and easy.
Dstl’s Professor Paul Thomas said, “Zero-second integration is really important. Rather than spending months or years developing a system, by which time the threat has changed or gone away, you can simply click together these pieces and they just work at deployment time. So you can respond to a new or an emerging threat by integrating the pieces you need at the time you need them.”
The NATO TV channel have produced a video article about the exercise, which includes footage of various counter-drone technologies in action. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
Fortem Technologies Deploys Man Portable Counter-UAS Solution in Ukraine
Fortem Technologies has announced a new, smaller portable counter-UAS system in direct response to the crisis in Ukraine. Working closely with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Fortem provided Ukraine with a number of the Fortem SkyDome man-portable counter-UAS solutions, as well as on site training and support.
The solution includes the Fortem DroneHunter, which removes drones from the sky autonomously day and night.
Ukraine has a dire need for portable counter-drone technology to detect and disarm Group 1 and II enemy surveillance drones. Recognizing this, Fortem took its pre-existing portable counter-UAS system and further miniaturized and simplified it for use as an expeditionary rapid deployment system.
“Fortem creates the world’s best drone interceptor. We work everyday to keep venues, campuses, and entire cities protected from rogue drone incursions,” said Fortem Technologies CEO Timothy Bean. “When our predictions came true – that drones would be relied upon heavily in the next major conflict – we knew we had to act quickly to arm our allies with the technology necessary to keep themselves safe from drone surveillance and attacks.”
The Fortem SkyDome man-portable counter-UAS solution sets up very quickly with an off-power grid without connection to power networks or generators. This allows expeditionary forces to operate at the border of a conflict with no dependency on an operating infrastructure or heavy and noisy support equipment. The solution is very safe for the operators, as the operator can be stationed far away and can stop transmissions across ground radios to avoid electronic detection. The detection sensors operate at a very high beamwidth and low power so that it’s extremely hard to detect the solution with electronic counter measures.
“It’s evident that the new weapon of war is drones, and countries must be prepared to protect their people and infrastructure from such attacks,” said a Senior UKR MOD official. “Fortem’s SkyDome system allows for detection and mitigation of attacking drones, which helps Ukraine in its fight against Putin’s forces.”
Currently, Fortem Technologies is deployed in the U.S., the Middle East, Asia and, most recently, Ukraine. Additionally, Toshiba recently chose Fortem as their counter-drone partner worldwide.
Conclusion
Development of C-UAS systems continues apace with the ever-evolving threat appearing in Ukraine and the Middle East in particular. Given the threat posed by these small, often autonomous systems, whose sophistication grows by the day, governments across the world are pouring millions of dollars in development funds to enhance existing C-UAS systems. One day a swarm will get through these defences and wreak havoc on its target. The systems discussed in this Feature will undoubtedly delay that day and reduce the overall threats posed.