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02 May 24. Cuashub.com said today that Companies Partner to Tackle Counter-UAS Market Opportunities. Gama Aviation’s Special Mission strategic business unit and Department 13 have announced a formal partnership to deliver tailored solutions in the UK to counter drone threats for vital sectors, including Air Ambulance services, National Security, Policing, and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). The collaboration between Department 13 and Gama Aviation entails joint efforts to capitalize on market prospects within critical UK special mission sectors, necessitating agile airspace management solutions.
Department 13’s SCOUT, ATLAS, and DART solutions offer cutting-edge non-jamming and non-kinetic UAS detection and counter-UAS capabilities for defense and commercial applications. This innovative technology enables the establishment of secure fixed or mobile perimeters, empowering operators to assume control over target drones or their controllers.
By utilizing non-jamming technologies, friendly aerial systems can safely and consistently utilize airspace, ensuring the integrity of the monitored area is maintained.
Managing Director of Gama Aviation’s Special Mission strategic business unit, Mark Smith, commented, “Department 13 came to our attention following a strategic review of the unmanned aerial system market. The review concluded that the primary opportunity came from counter-UAS, an insight which is sadly being evidenced every day in Ukraine, where UAS are being used extensively. Furthermore, as an aviation company, we understand the kinetic threats that UAS pose to Special Mission operations and infrastructure such as air bases. We also understand that it is simply not practical for airspace to be closed by wide-area jamming techniques. Department 13’s ATLAS and SCOUT systems offer a unique technology that in our view is best suited to the management and protection from threat of airspace surrounding prisons, CNI, military or other national security operations and major events.”
Darren Gillam, CEO of Department 13, commented on the collaboration, “We are very excited and proud to be partnering with Gama Aviation, and the synergistic effect both companies will have in delivering critical C-UAS solutions for the UK. We see this as another example of how two well-regarded companies further embrace the AUKUS relationship.”
https://cuashub.com/en/content/companies-partner-to-tackle-counter-uas-market-opportunities/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_5o9DipRKsYrjFdZhtXAzV4aqpuklE31mYPJzT34p8KUmj6pm_WOVpurAzK0FGaoE8TPZk3DId9VTSZDeKTkTMqEBdGbJAOFJG41vQK8_YHtZ7HUM&_hsmi=305320288#utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&utm_content=305320288&utm_source=hs_email (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
02 May 24. HENSOLDT UK has been selected by Navantia UK to provide key systems to the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s (RFA) three new Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships. The new vessels will incorporate Quadome Naval 3D Air and Surface Surveillance Radar, Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems and Kelvin Hughes Integrated Navigation Bridge Systems (INBS).
The FSS ships will play a crucial role in supporting the replenishment operations of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.
HENSOLDT will supply its new-generation Quadome 3D Air and Surface Surveillance radar, which features the latest software-defined active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, offering a future-proof solution with an extended operational lifetime. It offers an unparalleled level of price versus operational performance – achieving levels of small target detection, volume tracking and mission systems interaction, previously only available with more expensive radar systems.
Its operational advantages include simultaneous 3D Air and Surface Surveillance with multiple specialist modes of operation. Quadome is easy to operate and maintain, reducing the operator manning, training, and skills burden.
The Quadome radar includes an integrated IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antenna and will integrate into the HENSOLDT MSSR 2000 IFF interrogator, already deployed for the UK Royal Navy (RN) and RFA. A comprehensive ATM display solution is also included as part of this contract award.
The north London-based company will also supply Kelvin Hughes INBS including SharpEye naval navigation radars and multifunction displays. The INBS can be customised to meet specific operational and technical needs, including redundancy and security options, with a seamless open interface to other ship systems. Multifunction displays simplify access to navigation tasks, including radar, charts, helicopter control and Conning Display.
The Kelvin Hughes INBS and SharpEye radars are already operational onboard the RFA Tide Class tankers and other RFA ships. This means that training, spares and support of the systems can be optimised across the RFA fleet, minimising through-life costs for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and maximising crew flexibility across the fleet for the RFA. HENSOLDT UK will design, construct, test and provide lifelong support for the INBS from its headquarters in Enfield, UK.
Both contracts will result in the creation of at least 50 highly skilled new UK jobs as well as securing around 150 existing jobs within the company and its UK supply chain. In addition, as a result of these contracts HENSOLDT will be investing over £1M into the Enfield factory and test facilities in order to create a new European support hub for Quadome radars.
Peter Dillon, Managing Director of HENSOLDT UK said: “These contracts support our plans for significant new investment in our UK manufacturing and support facility. We are set to establish a new Quadome radar support and test facility at our Enfield factory, utilising UK supply chain support. This will provide local maintenance, repair and support services to Navantia and the UK RFA, while also creating new employment opportunities in the area.”
He added: “We are proud to be working with Navantia UK to deliver this world-class capability to the RFA, and by extension the RN. This signals HENSOLDT’s entry into the UK’s naval Air Surveillance market and re-affirms our position as an Integrated Bridge Systems provider to the fleet.”
“Navantia UK and Team Resolute are proud to partner with HENSOLDT UK in order to equip the FSS vessels with top class surveillance and navigation systems. This contract is an important step forward in the progression of the programme, as well as a testament to our commitment to promote highly skilled jobs and prosperity across the UK”, said Sir Alan Massey KCB CBE, non Executive Chairman, Navantia UK.
02 May 24. Directed Energy Technology Ready For Today’s Threats. Honeywell explores directed energy (DE) technologies, looking at the history, what the future holds, and the company’s role in the maturation of DE Feature Article by Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. In the ever-evolving landscape of military defense, the recent Surface Navy event shined a spotlight on an exciting development: the call for rapid fielding of directed energy (DE) technologies.
These sophisticated systems, ideal for countering unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in critical engagement zones, are at the forefront of modern defense strategies.
The subsequent announcement by Secretary of the Navy Del Toro, advocating increased investment in DE technologies, underscores a pivotal shift towards these futuristic armaments.
A Glimpse into the Past
Utilizing lasers to neutralize ballistic threats is not a new concept. It dates back to the 1980s with the Strategic Defense Initiative, where gas lasers, comparable in size to small buildings, were the cutting edge. However, the technology had not matured enough to replace kinetic interceptors in missile defense. The pursuit of perfection continued into the 1990s and early 2000s, with chemical lasers developed under the Airborne Laser Testbed program. The landmark moment came in 2016 when fiber lasers were integrated into ground platforms through the Mobile Experimental High Energy Laser (MEHEL), featuring a 2-kW laser and a 10 cm aperture beam director – a solid-state High-Energy Laser (HEL) on a combat vehicle for the first time.
Honeywell’s Pioneering Role
Honeywell, long recognized for providing power and thermal solutions for aircraft and ground vehicles, has been pivotal in the maturation of DE technologies. The successful MEHEL and follow-on Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or “DE M-SHORAD”, programs highlighted the innovative thermal solutions from a then-small company, Rocky Research. Recognizing its potential, Honeywell acquired Rocky Research in 2020, bolstering our portfolio with ready-to-deploy directed energy solutions.
The Thermal Challenge Overcome
DE weapons’ integration into operational platforms brings about a significant hurdle: thermal control. The beam generation apparatus is highly susceptible to ambient temperature fluctuations and the intense heat produced during firing. Honeywell and Rocky Research have jointly developed a DE thermal management system that effectively mitigates this issue through burst cooling, enabled by a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) assisted vapor compression system.
The Innovations of Rocky Research
Rocky Research’s solution features a Phase Change Material (PCM)-based TES that provides burst cooling of energy that is characteristic of high energy lasers. By harnessing the latent heat of fusion within these materials, the system can store significant heat in a minimal volume, easing the burden on the cooling system and enhancing overall efficiency, maintenance requirements, and lifecycle.
Advancing the Future of Military Defense
The PCM technology developed has undergone extensive characterization, design, and testing for a broad spectrum of HEL systems, exhibiting superiority over paraffin and other common methods. Our thermal energy storage capability was demonstrated in December 2023 through a U.S. Navy program. Honeywell’s investment in these base materials and subsystems is critical to delivering competent systems to the U.S. military. Our commitment ensures that no ship or base is left vulnerable to unmanned aerial threats without the protective shield of directed energy.
As we march towards a new era of defense capabilities, Honeywell’s collaboration with leading system integrators and defense agencies promises a safer, more secure future for our military personnel and assets. Directed energy is not just a part of modern warfare – it is the future, and it is ready now.
(Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
02 May 24. UK wants next-generation defensive aids for Royal Navy submarines. The UK Ministry of Defence is simultaneously seeking new underwater defensive aids for Royal Navy submarines and information on containerised ASW solutions.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking potential supplier able to provide a next-generation submarine-based countermeasure capability to equip both current and future vessels in the fleet, and will shortlist up to three industry representatives that meet the pre-qualification standards.
In a 30 April 2024, contract opportunity notice, the UK MoD revealed that the £35m ($42.6m) programme would run from October 2025 through to October 2032. Industry selected would be issued with an Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD).
This system will be known as the Next Generation Countermeasure (NGCM) and fall under the wider Underwater Defensive Aids Suite (UDAS) delivery programme, the MoD said.
As part of the contract, suppliers would have to provide trials and testing, combat systems integration, equipment and technical support, an initial training needs analysis, and post design services as required.
Given the nature of the capability and the likely host platforms, such as the current Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) or the future AUKUS-SSN, industry wishing to participate are required to have security classification up to including ‘Secret UK Eyes Only’ level. As such, available information on the kind of capabilities offered and eventually selected will be minimal.
UK MoD also seeking containerised ASW solutions
Meanwhile, the UK MoD issued a Request for Information (RfI) on 30 April for the potential use of modular or containerised anti-submarine warfare (ASW) concepts, specifically regarding remote or autonomous ASW sensing capabilities, that could be hosted within a 20ft ISO container for deployment from a Common Medium sized Uncrewed Surface Vessel (MUSV) of around 40m length.
The MoD stated that the Royal Navy is seeking to “understand acoustic ASW solutions that are ’frigate-like’ in capability parameters”, but that MUSV vessel intended to host the system “may not be acoustically quietened or clad”.
In addition, alternative non-acoustic sensing options were also of interest but would “need to represent a detection capability equal to current active/passive detection ranges” or would need to be hosted complimentary to an acoustic solution, the MoD said.
The description of a 40m MUSV host platform indicates that any solution would be tested onboard the XV Patrick Blackett, the Royal Navy’s experimental warfare surface ship acquired in 2022. Built by Damen in the Netherlands, the XV Patrick Blackett was originally a commercial Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 4008 craft modified for Royal Navy requirements.
The vessel has a length of 42 metres (m) and a gross tonnage of 270 tonnes (t), reaching a maximum speed of up to 20 knots. A crew of five personnel can be accommodated onboard.
The XV Patrick Blackett has a 140m² cargo deck space, with a load capacity of 2.5t per m² and is designed to accommodate containerised systems for UAVs or naval UAVs as required. (Source: naval-technology.com)
02 May 24. Philippine Air Force receives mobile air surveillance radar from Japan. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has received a mobile radar system from Japan to strengthen air surveillance. Japan has delivered the TPS-P14ME radar manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Melco) to the PAF, the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) announced in late April.
“[The TPS-P14ME radar] will provide high-resolution surveillance of air and surface targets, significantly enhancing the PAF’s ability to detect and track potential threats with precision,” the DND said.
“The deployment of this mobile radar system strengthens the Philippines’ air-defence network, providing real-time situational awareness and early warning capabilities,” the DND added.
This new radar will be operated by the PAF’s 580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing, the DND said. (Source: Janes)
01 May 24. New tech aims to make Marines more lethal shooters. Marines might soon see some new, high-tech tools to help them become more lethal shooters.
Top leaders in weapons training and marksmanship shared a series of technologies that the service is experimenting with that would give Marines more accurate and realistic ways to practice shooting while also instantly gathering data on how they’re performing and how to improve.
Col. Howard Hall, chief of staff for training and education command, said that a 2018 Operational Analysis Directorate study showed that Marines in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan only had a 30% chance of making a lethal hit on a target if the target or Marine was moving, if there were multiple targets or if the target was at an unknown distance.
Hall told the audience at the Modern Day Marine Expo that study helped drive changes to the annual rifle qualification in 2021 ― the first major overhaul in a century.
The changes included switching the order of fire from starting at the 100-yard line and moving back to the 500-yard line to the reverse, starting farther out and moving closer in, as a Marine would do in combat.
The qualification also added shorter range, quick drill fires at 25 yards, added moving targets and the use of barricades, among other changes.
The new tech that Marines are experimenting with aims to tighten those shot groups and speed up Marine shooting to make it more lethal. Much of that is coming in the form of making more training options off the range in weapons drills and simulators. Other efforts include more accurate data collection and real-time feedback for shooters to adjust their technique.
The package of tools includes the Mantis X10 and Unit 4 equipment that can be inserted into an M4 or M27 and allow users to practice dry fire, use a laser and feel recoil without using live rounds.
These provide corrections to shooting techniques the Marines never got from the “snap-in” barrel.
A snap-in barrel is a barrel, typically an empty 55-gallon oil drum or similar sized item that is painted white and then painted with small versions of the target shapes used on the rifle range. Those smaller shapes simulate the size of the target like what a shooter would see on the range but at a shorter distance.
Marines then dry fire their rifles on those targets, practicing breath and trigger control.
“This is a digital snap-in barrel, and it provides you feedback,” said Col. Greg Jones, commander of weapons training battalion.
The Mantis system is being experimented with the Marine Corps recruit depot shooting ranges at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Edson Range, Camp Pendleton, California.
The joint marksmanship assessment package uses either a smartphone or tablet, with software application, an acoustics measuring device and smartwatch to monitor movement.
It measures shooting in the short-range portion of the annual rifle qualification that goes from the 25 yards in. The joint marksmanship assessment package can gather up to a company’s worth of data in under four hours and develop plans to improve marksmanship based off the results.
The Corps is currently looking at a radar-based system that also would measure shooting from the 500-yard to 100-yard line for the rifle qualification. If both are adopted, it would fully digitize rife qualification.
In November 2023, the Corps awarded an $11.3 m contract for the advanced small arms lethality trainer to Valiant Integrated Services. The simulation system adds more scenarios and capabilities to the long-running indoor simulated marksmanship trainer.
The advanced small arms lethality trainer will be fielded to all major installations such as Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Quantico, Virginia and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. (Source: Marine Corps Times)
30 Apr 24. L3Harris Technologies – Defending our Airspace with EO/IR Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The need to defend sovereign airspace against Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) requires a rapid increase in innovative technologies that can identify, track and eliminate threats. The increased presence of unmanned aircraft poses a challenge to maintaining peace in our skies and there is a vital need to develop both defensive and offensive measures to counter threats against service personnel, military bases and critical assets.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems are a unique threat as they have a remarkable ability to navigate a wide range of environments and terrain undetected. They can be piloted remotely or autonomously and potentially used for nefarious intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. To handle this emergence, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with NASA, DOD, FAA and the Department of the Interior, are developing frameworks of UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and Air Domain Awareness (ADA) to collaboratively address how to best detect, identify and track any UAS that is legally or illegally airborne. Part of that framework requires high-performing counter-UAS systems to be established, which can actively engage hostile targets.
TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED FOR MISSION-NEEDS
As UAS and drone technology evolves, defense and aerospace manufacturers must swiftly meet the technological requirements to successfully track any unmanned aircraft. L3Harris’ WESCAM MX™-Series electro-optical/infrared sensor systems provide the tools necessary to succeed in the counter-UAS mission. This is enabled by tracking sensors, including electro-optical, mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors, boresighted with laser designation well beyond the range of the laser guided munitions, providing increased capabilities in force protection, targeting performance and system reliability.
Live fire tests resulted in a 100% kill rate, with various WESCAM MX-Series systems and supporting technologies bringing together the best electro-optics and precision laser designation to target, engage and destroy incoming UAS threats. Made in our vertically integrated facility in Hilton Head, South Carolina, L3Harris’ laser transmitters are unique in their ultra-high output peak power and short pulse, granting exceptional performance. L3Harris manufactures the glass used as the gain medium as well as the proprietary formulated Q-switch glass material, with 100% of the assembly taking place in house. This results in full control of how critical components are integrated, ruggedized and aligned within the entire package.
“The majority of the systems we build combine high-performance infrared sensors from our Mason, Ohio facility and laser transmitters from our facility in Hilton Head, South Carolina, with our industry-leading manufacturing process in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,” said Director, Engineering, Duane Heslinga. “In the case of counter-UAS missions, each of EO/IR sensor system provides laser designation capabilities with fully-stabilized performance, only possible with L3Harris technology and processes.”
SUPERIOR STABILIZATION AND TRACKING PERFORMANCE
What sets L3Harris solutions apart is our advanced engineering that results in uncompromised line-of-sight stabilization. Our WESCAM MX-10D RSTA features a proven stabilization architecture that stops line-of-sight jitter by employing a combination of passive damping and active motion cancellation on a vibration-isolated payload for on-the-move engagements. For vehicles conducting reconnaissance or target acquisition, or those engaged in combat, this is a critical mission-need. While using our counter-UAS technology, targets remain in sight throughout engagement. The advanced stabilization applies to the entire payload so that every internal device and function benefits from the same level of jitter suppression. This results in a smooth and stable high-definition image, maximizing target identification ranges.
The technology is also MIL-STD environmentally qualified for use across all land, air and maritime domains. Dry or hot environments are countered with an active external cooling system to maintain high-performance, while larger desiccant packs are employed to handle humid conditions.
The WESCAM MX-10D RSTA features a tenacious auto-tracker that is designed and tuned by our software engineering team. The video tracker uses motion-based algorithms that have been tailored for real-time ground based applications. These advanced tracking algorithms greatly simplify the target acquisition process. The system can automatically annotate multiple targets closest to the center of the line-of-sight based on their movement and allow the operator to cycle through them. This, coupled with the robust tracking through obscurations, enables operators to track targets effectively in challenging terrain and urban environments.
REAL-WORLD APPLICATION
Applying this technology to real-world platforms requires forward-looking innovation. In response to current needs of the warfighter, L3Harris embraced its reputation as an agile and Trusted Disrupter, announcing its Vehicle-Agnostic Modular palletized ISR Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE™). VAMPIRE is a low-cost, vehicle agnostic, rapid weapon deployment solution that gives ground forces the ability to quickly and accurately engage targets, including unmanned aircraft. VAMPIRE features the WESCAM MX-10 RSTA, providing ISR overmatch and is ideal for surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition missions from amphibious, armored combat and reconnaissance vehicles, including mast-mounted platforms. Due to its adaptability and ease of set-up, a single operator can track, laser designate and engage both airborne and ground targets while remaining highly mobile and able to engage with any UAS platform.
However, new UAS technology has led to smaller and faster platforms with the capability to carry weapons and other sensor suites. Therefore, L3Harris’ Fuzing and Ordnance Solutions (FOS) include a Proximity Fuze (Prox Fuze) for VAMPIRE and other counter-UAS applications, turning an APKWS-guided Hydra rocket into a low-cost UAS killing munition. Building on our Hydra Fuze products with ms of successful firings, our Prox Fuze detects the threat and airbursts without requiring direct impact with the UAS, greatly increasing the munition effectiveness on target as demonstrated by a 100% kill rate in US testing against UAS targets. When paired with the other L3Harris technologies in VAMPIRE, our Prox Fuze provides the system lethality to reliably defeat UAS threats.
Ultimately, L3Harris’ designating systems enable teams to dominate the battlefield 24/7, with greater precision than ever before. Field proven, with extensive deployment, WESCAM MX-Series designating systems offer “plug-and-play” installation, as well as high-sensitivity multi-spectral sensors for day, low-light and night-time missions. In addition, our systems encourage ease and familiarity of use, simplified turret interchangeability within fleets, efficiencies in technology enhancements and overall system support. The series features common electronics and cabling, common user interfaces and video overlays, and common software and internal components ensuring optimal integration within specific platforms and mission parameters.
However, to ensure we are meeting customers’ unique needs, L3Harris also has the capability and experience to provide unparalleled mission management software applications, such as Widow® 2.0, for aerial and ground systems like VAMPIRE and other counter-UAS systems. The open architecture software allows operators to integrate multiple feeds into one optimized display, integrating multi-spectral video sources and informational feeds with satellite imagery, reference maps and terrain databases. This results in increased situational awareness and provides an advantage to operators through tactical overlays, sensor integration for tracking and targeting and workload optimization. Furthermore, L3Harris’ ISR Software Development Team can tailor the interface for any operator or platform, customizing the information feed as required by specific counter-UAS mission needs.
MULTI-DOMAIN APPLICATION
Already proven on the ground in recent engagements, the VAMPIRE system has garnered acclaim for its precision and reliability in combat. It has shown potential for multi-domain application, with effective, low-cost engagement capabilities that can be extended to the seas, offering a transformative solution for maritime operations against UAS, fast inshore attack crafts and low-slow flyers.
Because today’s mission requirements demand identification and designation from longer standoff ranges, L3Harris counter-UAS initiatives are engineered to focus on the three factors that drive maximum range: resolution, magnification and stabilization. As a result, sensor systems such as the WESCAM MX-15D and WESCAM MX-10D RSTA are superior in their ability to provide counter-UAS solutions, acting as both a preventative and reactionary measure to any threats that appear in our skies.
(Source: ASD Network)
30 Apr 24. USMC Says It Wants Counter-Drone Capabilities ‘Yesterday’ as It Rushes to Roll Out New Systems. The Marine Corps wants to field better counter-drone capabilities yesterday. Since that is not possible, the service says it’s looking to get them to Marines right now, or at least very soon. Over the last five years, the Marine Corps has been improving its counter-drone systems as it looks to reshape the force and compete with near-peer adversaries. Officials at Modern Day Marine, a military exposition in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, said those efforts are paramount as competing nations such as Russia and China proliferate their own drone stocks.
“I like to say we’ve done great, but the enemy’s got a vote,” Steve Bowdren, the Marine Corps’ program executive officer for land systems, told reporters Tuesday. “And so even though this has been great progress, we’re almost too late, right?… It’s not there today, but it’s really close.”
Bowdren told reporters that the Marine Corps has come a long way from a half-decade ago when it “really just had Stinger” missile systems to shoot down drones. Now, it is looking at fielding upgraded systems such as the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, a mobile, Stinger-mounted vehicle, as well as the Medium Range Intercept Capability, or MRIC, which can target cruise missiles and drones.
Some of these systems can be expected to hit the fleet in the next year, he said.
As drones — sometimes cheap, off-the-shelf commercial models — stalk battlefields in Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of that country, the Marine Corps is increasing the urgency for acquiring, testing and deploying its own unmanned aerial systems, or UAS.
“Small UAS and counter-UAS are probably the biggest change that we’ve seen recently,” Brig. Gen. Stephen Lightfoot, director of the service’s Capabilities Development Directorate, said when referring to the “changing character of war.”
Lightfoot pointed to the war in Ukraine as a specific data point that the Marine Corps is examining for its own counter-drone capabilities — commercial drones, first-person-view drones, and even ones operated by cell phone are all on its radar.
Meanwhile, the service is training Marines in counter-drone tactics. As early as last week, for example, Marines with the 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, battled single-person drones in a simulated exercise — this time with shotguns, machine guns and rifles.
Some units, Military.com has previously reported, said that they do not have their own counter-drone capabilities, even when deploying to high-pressure regions such as the Pacific, where tensions with China are running high.
Unmanned aircraft systems are “a wicked problem that everyone’s working hard to come to grips with,” Col. Brendan Sullivan, then-commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, or MRF-D, told reporters last year. “That’s a huge focus of effort within the 1st Marine Division and a specific emphasis going for the division commander.”
Other units, such as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have had their hands on counter-drone systems such as the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or L-MADIS, the little brother to the system with a similar name, since earlier this year. Some MEUs have used it for longer.
The threat that drones present to the Marine Corps was a concern at last year’s Modern Day Marine expo, with then-commandant Gen. David Berger saying “the defense against drones and swarming drones … it’s clearly a challenge right now.”
That challenge has only grown, according to officials Tuesday, and the need for the Marine Corps to thwart it is critical.
“I think it’s needed right now,” Lightfoot said. “[It’s] easy for me to say that as a requirements guy, because I want counter-UAS yesterday.” (Source: Military.com)
30 Apr 24. Here’s when the US Army will pick next long-range spy plane. The U.S. Army will choose who is to integrate its long-range, high-speed spy plane this summer, a major step in its effort to overhaul existing fixed-wing aircraft that perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, according to service officials in charge of the program.
The service plans to retire roughly 70 aircraft — its entire ISR fleet — as it brings on the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, that will be able to rapidly deploy and provide deep-sensing capabilities.
For the first time, the Army is using a large-cabin business jet — the Bombardier Global 6500 — to serve as the airframe for the spy plane. The service awarded Bombardier a contract in December for one aircraft, with an option to buy two more over a three-year period.
Competitors expect the Army to choose the team that will integrate sensors onto the business jet around late June or early July. An L3Harris Technologies, MAG Aerospace and Leidos team is competing against Sierra Nevada Corp. All four companies are involved in ISR fixed-wing prototype efforts with the Army.
What are the Army’s choices?
The Army has spent more than five years assessing ISR fixed-wing prototypes using high-speed jets to inform the HADES program. It began with the deployment of Artemis — or Airborne Reconnaissance and Target Exploitation Multi-mission System — which has flown in the European theater near the Ukrainian border.
The Army in 2019 awarded a contract to HII, and the company subsequently awarded a contract to Leidos to build Artemis using a Bombardier Challenger 650 jet.
Then the service deployed Ares — or Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System — to the Pacific region in April 2022. The Army awarded a contract to Alion Science and Technology, which is now owned by HII. Alion awarded a subcontract to L3Harris in November 2020 to build and fly the aircraft. Ares is based on a Bombardier Global Express 6500 jet.
Combined, Artemis and Ares have flown more than 1,000 sorties, according to Andrew Evans, who leads the Army’s ISR Task Force. They fly roughly 10-hour missions and average 20 sorties a month, he added.
The Army is also preparing to take on four more prototypes that will inform the requirements for the HADES program. The service chose a pair of companies to deliver two jets each with spy technologies to advance long-range targeting plans.
MAG Aerospace and L3Harris will outfit a Global 6500 with ISR sensors for the Army’s radar-focused Athena-R effort.
And Sierra Nevada is providing its RAPCON-X, based on a converted Bombardier business jet, for the service’s singals intelligence-focused Athena-S project.
The president of L3Harris’ ISR division, Jason Lambert, told Defense News at the AAAA conference that the team won its contract in March 2023, began integration in September 2023 when it received the aircraft and held its first flight in February. Since then the aircraft has flown 40 performance handling and quality flights, as well as collected more than 600 data points with a 100% success rate, Lambert said.
“The pilots came back and said it flies just like a Global 6500, despite the fact that we [have] these different outer-mold line changes on it,” he noted. This includes adding a 29-foot-long pod to the bottom of the plane.
The service will receive the two aircraft in the third quarter of 2024 — one in July and another in September, Lambert said. For L3Harris’ HADES submission, the aircraft will be 90% common with Athena-R, he added.
The company expects the service to award a contract for the second HADES prototype about six months after the first. The contract for the third — a production-representative prototype — will follow with a longer time gap in between so the Army can collect data from deployments involving the first HADES prototypes.
Why now?
The Army recognized it would need new piloted, fixed-wing ISR assets to carry out its missions in complex environments — “something that flies much farther, much faster and much higher,” Andrew Evans, the Army’s ISR Task Force director, said.
Using 70 “very capable” Beechcraft King Air and De Havilland Canada Dash-8 aircraft, the Army, “has done some enormous and powerful work in support of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan” Evans said during the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual conference this month. But the existing fleet won’t be able to fulfill long-range missions off the coast of China — which the U.S. government considers its top threat — “or really almost any other place in the world if you’re talking about extended geographic ranges with limited basing and access,” Evans added.
“So HADES provides our solution to that, but we have to do it affordably,” Evans noted.
Once the Army picks a team to integrate sensors onto the jet, the process will take 18 months before the aircraft can deploy for a user assessment, the Army estimated. That assessment moves the aircraft from a controlled test environment in the United States to operational environments “to really stress test your systems and figure out what’s working and what’s not,” Evans said.
The Army will deploy HADES for a limited period of time and then start building more aircraft as the early prototype remains deployed, he added.
The service plans to field 14 HADES aircraft by 2035, according to a slide Maj. Gen. Wally Rugen, the director of Army aviation, displayed during a speech at the AAAA conference.
While industry officials said they anticipate the Army will continue to award the same team subsequent contracts to build all of the HADES aircraft, Evans noted that “the guidance to our acquisition teammates was to ensure that we give ourselves as much flexibility as possible in the process.”
What has the service learned?
The Army’s strategy to overhaul its fixed-wing ISR fleet is a unique approach, Evans said, because the service asked industry to provide flight-ready prototypes, rather than select a team to build a system according to specifications. This was meant to help the Army quickly learn while it fills a capability gap.
Indeed, these prototypes are helping the service understand how sensors can keep up with a jet flying higher and at faster speeds, Dennis Teefy, the Army’s project manager for sensors and aerial intelligence within Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, said at the AAAA event.
The Army is currently working through how it refines processing, exploitation and dissemination of an enormous amount of data coming from the platform’s sensors, he added.
“How do we deal with all that volume of data? How do we transport that data across the comms network down to where it needs to go?” Teefy said, noting there are opportunities for industry to continue work on these areas and help the Army figure out how best to move data across the battlefield.
The prototypes already flying have also taught the Army a great deal about adapting sensor needs using a modular, open-system architecture, according to the service’s program manager for fixed-wing aircraft, Col. Joseph Minor.
“It’s different in every [environment] that we operate in, so to be able to change sensors quickly, to be able to adapt, especially on a globally deployable platform, much lower numbers is critical,” Minor said at the AAAA event. “When you are talking about a much smaller number of aircraft that are globally deployed, you’ve got to be able to make those changes on the fly.” (Source: Defense News)
30 Apr 24. Cuashub.com said today that Moody Air Force Base Issues RFI for Fixed and Mobile C-UAS. Moody Air Force Base has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking details on fixed and mobile Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) technologies. The system must be able to detect, identify, track, and counter small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in stationary, vehicular, and man-portable configurations. It should be versatile and compatible with various power sources, including US, overseas, vehicle, and man-pack styles.
The technologies should be proficient in detecting frequencies from the controller, video, telemetry, and Wi-Fi communications links. Basic requirements include a horizontal detection range of at least 1.5 km, no more than 20 minutes of setup time, and the capability to simultaneously counter at least eight sUAS vehicles. Interoperability with other C-sUAS systems is mandatory.
The system should provide visual and audio cues or alerts upon sUAS detection. It should offer the option to automatically neutralize threats based on predefined parameters or require operator intervention for threat mitigation. Compliance with MIL-STD-461/810 standards for environmental durability and electromagnetic compatibility is essential.
Additionally, the system should include a visual display indicating the threat radius, encompassing details such as location, altitude, protocol, and frequency, and be expandable to larger monitors or screens for enhanced display capabilities.
The RFI seeks additional information such as system cost, warranty options, system operator training information, availability of customer support, etc. For more information, please visit cUAS on sam.gov.
Original Published Date: Apr 11, 2024, 02:39 pm EDT
Updated Response Date: May 13, 2024, 12:00 pm EDT
Original Response Date: May 13, 2024, 12:00 pm EDT
https://cuashub.com/en/content/moody-air-force-base-issues-rfi-for-fixed-and-mobile-c-uas/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-86VopMqKmw_-yAS8bGX0LHbsgbDKBYOsb0hJTiE6fbFiNQtKsGPLo44KZMh2–AGIKFaSPutN-BiMeTgEpjiVgGrsQEKv8lpYfps1lSc5wcsSMeZY&_hsmi=304918216#utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&utm_content=304918216&utm_source=hs_email(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
26 Apr 24. US Army closing in on selecting new spy-plane integrator, user assessment around late-2026. HADES is “designed to support active campaigning short of conflict and then potentially support targeting in conflicted areas where you might let high-end stealthy fighters or unmanned systems take first contact,” said Andrew Evans, the ISR Task Force director.
AAAA 2024 — The US Army plans to pick a prime integrator for its new manned, fixed-wing spy plane later this year and have the first modified Bombardier Global 6500 jet up in the air around the late 2026 timeframe, according to service officials.
The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, is “designed to support active campaigning short of conflict and then potentially support targeting in conflicted areas where you might let high-end stealthy fighters or unmanned systems take first contact,” Andrew Evans, the director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Task Force told reporters Thursday.
“Then HADES, like many other joint assets, would do fall back support until we reestablish air superiority or supremacy,” he added.
Over the past several years, the service has tasked an array of companies with producing “bridging” aerial ISR assets designed, in part, to inform HADES requirements. Those have included:
- An ISR as a service contract to the Sierra Nevada Corporation for the High Altitude Expeditionary Next ISR-Sensor (Athena-S) centered around two converted Global 6500s;
- Another pair of converted Global 6500s by MAG Air and L3Harris under the Athena-Radar initiative;
- A Leidos-owned Bombardier Challenger 650 dubbed the Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (Artemis): and
- The L3 Harris Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (Ares) that uses a Bombardier Global 6000.
The service then inched forward with a formal program of record earlier this year when it announced Bombardier’s Global 6500 jet would ultimately be used for HADES and awarded the company with a $66.4 m contract for the first plane.
“One of the challenges in this … mission space is there’s a lot of capable performance on aircraft but as soon as you start modifying them for the purpose of doing an ISR event, sometimes you lose that performance,” Evans said.
With the plane selected, the service asked all companies interested in integrating a suite of government furnished sensors into the aircraft to submit proposals. Service officials are now evaluating those proposals and a winner should be announced later this year, according to Col. Joe Minor, the project manager for fixed-wing aircraft. (Some industry officials said they anticipate an announcement this summer.)
Once the prime integrator is selected, Evans said the company will spend the next 18 months on integration work before it is “stress tested” during a military user assessment abroad around the late 2026 timeframe.
If all goes as planned, the service should have all 14 HADES ready for the air by 2035 and will gradually retire 70 RC-12 Guardrails and Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems (EMARSS), and phase out the bridging capabilities, Evans and Minor explained. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
30 Apr 24. DroneShield (“DroneShield” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce it has released a substantial upgrade to the Artificial Intelligence firmware (RFAI) running on flagship radio frequency sensors including the RfPatrol, RfOne and DroneSentry-X models.
The upgrade is available as part of the normal quarterly firmware upgrade cycle, to the customers enrolled into DroneShield’s device subscription plan, globally.
This update not only expands the pool of drone types that RFAI can identify, but also includes a complete rework of the underlying software. The AI algorithms have been rebuilt from the ground up to take advantage of cutting-edge developments in Machine Learning, and futureproof the detection model so that performance can continue to increase.
Major upgrades include:
- Spatial Intelligence: Using Remote ID and Drone ID beacon information, all devices (including previously non-directional detectors) can now determine the distance, direction, and elevation of drones so they can be precisely located and countered.
- Tailored Autonomous Disruption: The software-defined disruption in the DroneSentry-X Mk2 Detect & Defeat can now be configured to automatically respond to specifically detected drones without the delays that come with manual control.
- Advanced GNSS targeting: Disruption profiles can target individual navigation service signals by their frequency (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, NavIC, and QZSS), allowing focused denial without damaging friendly/blue force operations.
- Encrypted API: Operators can now securely control RF devices using TLS encryption under the v2 gRPC protocol. API commands are expanded to allow much greater control of all devices – including disruption – so operators can control them remotely or incorporate them into existing EW systems.
- Advanced Hardware Control: DroneSentry-X Mk2 now allows administrators to disable physical modules such as disarming disruption amplifiers to comply with regulations or placing the device into “Stealth Mode” to suit different deployments.
- Clear Actionable Warnings: Device UI is more detailed and informative to operators when there is any sort of issue, including power levels or settings changes. This will help troubleshooting and ensure maximum uptime.
29 Apr 24. Not so certain, SURTASS: Defence reviews naval sonar purchase among undersea options. The Australian government is reviewing its possible acquisition of the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) previously approved by the US State Department under a US$207m foreign military sale last year.
It’s understood the potential acquisition of the SURTASS-E equipment is subject to review, prioritisation against other Australian Defence Force capabilities and is expected to be discussed in advice presented to the Australian government later this year in light of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.
The AN/UQQ-2 SURTASS has previously been equipped to ocean surveillance vessels used by the US Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defence Force. It utilises a passive towed array and a low-frequency active sonar for undersea surveillance.
“Defence is considering the acquisition of the SURTASS-E alongside a number of other undersea surveillance capabilities,” a Defence spokesperson said.
The Australian government requested to buy SURTASS-E mission systems for vessels of opportunity, a shore processing mission system, a spare SURTASS passive acoustic array, containers, communications parts and support equipment, software, publications, training, US government and contractor engineering support, other related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated total cost of US$207m in May 2023.
A statement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that required certification of the possible sale had been notified to US Congress on 4 May last year.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies in the western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to the US national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defence capability,” the DSCA said.
“The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future maritime threats by providing tactical platforms with the detection and cueing of enemy submarines. The ability to provide acoustic wide area surveillance and generate indications and warnings to Australian commands will significantly improve shared maritime security. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
At that time, Lockheed Martin-Syracuse and Lockheed Martin-Manassas were detailed under the statement as the principal contractors, and it was outlined that the proposed sale would require US government personnel and US contractor representatives to visit Australia on a temporary basis.
The possible sale through the US Foreign Military Sales program is expected to provide Defence with an avenue to acquire and sustain interoperable capability with the US, speed up capability introduction, strengthen defence and political ties and achieve operational capability similar to those already in operation in the US. (Source: Defence Connect)
29 Apr 24. Kopin Expands into India Defense Market with Third Production Order Supporting Mounted and Handheld Thermal Vision Systems. Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading provider of application-specific optical solutions and high-performance microdisplays for defense, enterprise, consumer, and medical products, has further expanded its customer base by receiving a third production order for its Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) microdisplays, for use in thermal imaging vision systems – both mounted and handheld for Indian Armed Forces. Under the terms of the latest production order for over 1,200 units, deliveries take place over a six-month time span.
Kopin’s highly efficient OLED microdisplays are ideal for portable thermal imaging vision systems, because of their ultra-compact size and low power, which makes them suitable for mobile battery-powered applications. The high-resolution display provided in this order will deliver essential information to end users and provide them with additional situational awareness and a performance advantage.
“We are pleased to add international thermal imaging applications to our strong portfolio of domestic thermal sight eyepiece assemblies,” stated Bill Maffucci, Kopin’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. “The opportunity to supply display products to the Indian Armed Forces provides us with a significant expansion of our addressable market. The selection of Kopin display products for this application is a testament to the high performance, quality and reliability of our OLED products and our commitment to on-time and in-full deliveries.”
(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Apr 24. Italy to enhance SSA with new ground-based sensors. The Italian National Armaments Directorate (NAD) is procuring three ground-based sensors to enhance the country’s space situational awareness (SSA), Janes learnt at the Military Space Situational Awareness Conference 2024, held in London from 22 to 24 April. In total, two optical telescopes and one high-performance radar are being procured as part of its national SSA plans, Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinando Dolce, the head of SSA at NAD, said at the conference. The first sensor being procured is a high-performance optical surveillance telescope from OHB Italia called Flyeye, Lt Col Dolce said. Flyeye will have the capacity to monitor objects in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geostationary orbit (GEO), Commander of the Space Situational Awareness Centre at the Italian Air Force Colonel Dario Tarantino told Janes. (Source: Janes)
29 Apr 24. NATO seeks C-UAS industry solutions to protecting critical infrastructure. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) seeks information regarding the availability, pricing, and delivery timeline of C-UAS equipment. The market survey is being issued to identify potential solutions, to calibrate requirements, and identify possible suppliers.
Responses are due back to NCI Agency no later than 23:59 hours Central European Time (CET) on 15 May 2024. Clarification requests can be submitted no later than 10 calendar days prior the MS closing date.
According to details of the tender:
“The purpose of the C-UAS equipment is to protect critical infrastructure installations such as ammunition depots. These installations are located in urban as well in rural environments. The project shall deliver military C-UAS capability able to detect, identify and neutralize enemies UAS (drones), flying over restricted military infrastructures.
“From an operational perspective, the requirement is to detect and deny any commercial UAS, in a zone with minimum 7 km radius. At the technical level, the detection and deny ranges will of course dependent on the target size and environmental conditions.”
The smart mitigation shall include jamming capabilities for both UAS communication channels and GNSS channels. The capability shall have the possibility to distinguish between Friend or Foe UAS, based on Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technologies such as remote drone ID (e.g. compliant with ASTM F3411, ASTM F3548 and ASD-STAN prEN 4709-002 P1). NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO MOLDOVA Annex B to NCIA/ACQ/2024/06737 NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO MOLDOVA Page B-2
The project is looking for a field proven solution.
The initial requirement is for six (6) integrated C-UAS systems composed of (at the minimum):
- radar detection capability,
- electro optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera(s),
- jammer capability, and
- a Command and Control (C2) system (i.e. an operator work post).
The number of components (e.g. radars, cameras and jammers) has to be dimensioned in accordance with the generic scenario presented above. For example, multiple radars may need to be deployed in the No-Go Zone to ensure the full coverage of the detection and identification zone. All components shall be deployed inside of the No-Go zone. Additional components (e.g. passive detection systems) can be proposed and will be considered within the overall balance between price and capability. The main threat is represented by commercial Class 1 UASs.
For more information:https://sam.gov/opp/fb0f568b66d64e70a6eb7ee60785d7e8/view (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
28 Apr 24. “Sweden needs to bolster C-UAS capabilities” – new Defence Commission report. Developing more widespread and potent counter-UAS capabilities is one of the key policy recommendations of a report Strengthened defence capability, Sweden as an ally delivered by the Swedish Defence Commission on Friday, 26 April 2024 to Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.
The deteriorating security situation, combined with Sweden’s obligations as an ally, requires an increased ambition for the military defence, according to the country’s defence ministry. “The development of military capability must be accelerated and adapted to the requirements that follow as a NATO Ally. Time must be a decisive factor in the political and military decision-making regarding issues such as personnel structure, acquisition of materiel and infrastructure development in the coming years.
The recommendations include an increased focus on air defence and cooperation within NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), an increased ability to operate and defend against unmanned vehicles, increased interoperability and full integration with NATO’s command system, an increased focus on logistics, including the ability to provide Host Nation Support and serve as a base and advanced staging area for Allied units, increased capacity to operate with military units outside Sweden’s borders and sequential growth of several types of military units.
“Adding to the recommendations of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Defence Commission proposes:
- prioritisation of two brigades, aiming to have three mechanised brigades and one infantry brigade by 2030;
- formation of a Norrland Infantry Regiment in the war-time organisation
- an increased conscription level, from the current level of 8 000 to 10 000 in 2030 and 12 000 in 2032, with consideration of a further increased conscription level to 14 000 in 2035;
- increased availability of personnel in the Swedish Royal Navy to increase operational capability;
- increased air defence capability, in order to counter unmanned aerial vehicles;
- additional procurement of essential supplies, such as ammunition including air-to-air and cruise missiles, and spare parts;
- new military units for territorial defence, organised as 20 companies and platoons;
- more refresher trainings for conscripts to meet the war-time organisation’s requirements;
- increased funding of voluntary defence organisations; and
- expansion of the officer education programme.”
“The Defence Commissions proposal means that the added funding for the military defence will gradually increase from the year 2025, so that in 2030 it will amount to a total of SEK 52.8 bn, of which SEK 20 bn is made up by the Defence Commissions proposal. For the civil defence, the addition will be at least SEK 15 bn a year from 2028.
“To this end, the Defence Commission suggests that the Minister for Defence considers giving the Defence Commission instructions to continue to monitor the development of Sweden’s defence and security situation.”
For more information
https://www.government.se/articles/2024/04/swedish-defence-commission-submits-final-report-on-military-defence-strengthened-defence-capability-sweden-as-an-ally/ (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
25 Apr 24. Gama Aviation and Department 13 partner to mitigate drone threats to UK critical infrastructure. Gama Aviation’s Special Mission business unit and Department 13 have formed a partnership that will work to mitigate drone threats for the UK’s Air Ambulance, national security, policing and other critical national infrastructure interests. Department 13’s SCOUT, ATLAS, and DART systems provide non-jamming and non-kinetic uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) detection and counter-UAS effects to defence and commercial sectors. The company’s technology allows for the creation of fixed or mobile secure perimeters, enabling operators to take control of a target drone or its controller. Gama Aviation identified Department 13 as a partner following a strategic review of the UAS market. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
29 Apr 24. Nearthlab launches high speed C-UAS intercept drone at AUVSI Xponential. At this year’s AUVSI Xponential show, Nearthlab launched its high-speed kinetic interceptor drone, which uses utilizes advanced autopilot algorithms for calculating and tracking precise target trajectories, neutralizing Group 1 and 2 aerial threats with pinpoint accuracy, said the company in a press release.
Additionally, Nearthlabed presented AiDEN, an autonomous drone designed for diverse operational contexts, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, emergency response programs, and infrastructure inspections.
Nearthlab’s solutions, including the CUAS drone and AiDEN, are manufactured in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). For more information:5https://www.nearthlab.com/ (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
25 Apr 24. Drone-killing costs must come down, says Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer. The price tag for weapons and munitions used to destroy drones must come down, as the costs are “getting too expensive” and uncrewed systems are expected to saturate battlefields, according to the Pentagon’s acquisition boss.
U.S. troops have for years batted down attack and reconnaissance drones, often by using pricey ordnance. Ongoing intercepts of drones launched by the Yemen-based Houthi militant group in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are reliant on multim-dollar missiles, among other arms.
Bill LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said April 24 during a conference hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington that “cost curve matters” in counter-drone operations.
The goal is to get the cost down to approximately tens of thousands of dollars per round, he added, noting a price exceeding $100,000 a shot is “getting too expensive.”
The comments come as overhead defenses receive overhauls and industry jostles for contracts. Militaries the world over are increasingly developing and deploying uncrewed systems with the goal of spying, supplying and attacking forces from farther away; their popularity can be seen in Eastern Europe as well as the Greater Middle East.
LaPlante said there exists equipment in the ideal cost window but did not name makers nor models.
Defense companies have built and pitched everything from powerful lasers and microwaves to drones that ram their targets midair. The U.S. Army in February bought 600 Coyote interceptors from RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies, in a deal worth $75 m. Coyote devices are used in mobile and stationary setups in what’s known as the Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft Integrated Defeat System, or LIDS.
“We have a spreadsheet of all the counter-[unmanned aerial system technologies] that are out there, including prototypes that the labs are doing. Everybody’s doing them,” LaPlante said at the conference. “I’m really excited about some possibilities of even some counter-UAS capabilities per round that could be $10,000.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
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Echodyne is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced commercial radar solutions for defense and national security applications. The company’s proprietary metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA®) architecture, a rare breakthrough in advanced radar engineering, leverages a physics-design approach to adapt conventional materials and deliver unexpected and beneficial behavior. The result is a solid-state, low-SWaP unit coupled with advanced software capabilities that delivers superior radar performance and unparalleled data integrity, radically improving system performance and enhancing safety for people and machines. With leading positions in counter-UAS, force protection, base security, and portable ISR, Defense Agencies and Suppliers rely on Echodyne radar for extraordinary accuracy and consistent, reliable operation. For more information, please visit: Echodyne.com.
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