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03 Apr 26 C-UAS Hub said today that Vigilant Aerospace deploys airspace management at Oklahoma Test Range.
Vigilant Aerospace has installed its FlightHorizon TEMPO airspace management system at the Oklahoma Air & Space Port, marking a step forward in the state’s efforts to expand testing infrastructure for autonomous aircraft and spacecraft.
The deployment is part of a multi-year project awarded in early 2025 by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to support advanced uncrewed and spaceflight operations. The system integrates multiple long-range radars and transponder receivers to monitor airspace across a wide area without relying on chase aircraft.
According to the company, the system enables real-time tracking, detect-and-avoid capabilities, and traffic logging across thousands of square kilometers, supporting beyond visual line of sight operations and high-speed flight testing.
Doug Wood, State Manager for Advanced Air Mobility at ODAA, said:
“This is a key milestone in building out the infrastructure required for a national proving ground for long-distance, autonomous flight testing. FlightHorizon provides the robust traffic management system required – a standards-based, multi-sensor-ready solution that can grow with future military, cargo UAS, and air taxi operations.”
The system is expected to support future programs including planned flights of the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane from the Clinton-Sherman site.
Vigilant Aerospace CEO Kraettli L. Epperson said:
“This deployment creates new opportunities for advanced flight testing and operational validation. By combining standards-based detect-and-avoid and scalable surveillance infrastructure, Clinton-Sherman can support a wide range of current and future aerospace missions safely and efficiently with great cost-effectiveness and range availability compared to competing solutions.”
The project, funded through a state initiative to develop UAS and advanced air mobility infrastructure, currently covers around 5,000 square kilometers, with plans to expand. Officials say the system could also support missions such as disaster response and search and rescue, alongside its primary testing role.
Vigilant Aerospace deploys airspace management at Oklahoma Test Range – cuashub.com
09 Apr 26. SEA, part of Cohort plc Group, is supporting marine autonomy specialist OSHEN on a ZeroUSV-led project, which is exploring the deployment and development of an autonomous underwater acoustic sensing network to enhance communications with subsurface assets. The project is led by USV specialists – ZeroUSV, with OSHEN, MarineAI and MSubs as project partners, and supported by UK Defence Innovation (previously DASA) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
As part of the collaboration, SEA will provide hydrophones for use on OSHEN’s C-STARS uncrewed surface system to provide low-power acoustic listening capability. The project will see OSHEN deploy its rugged sail-powered C-STARS micro-drones from Zero USV’s Oceanus12 uncrewed surface vessel to act as a distributed acoustic network, monitoring for communication signals from underwater assets.
SEA’s hydrophones will provide the acoustic sensing capability, with the technology already deployed in various applications including maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. SEA’s collaboration with OSHEN for the DASA programme reflects growing international demand for scalable acoustic and monitoring capabilities, that can be deployed from both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
It also builds on SEA’s wider contribution to UK and international wide-area ASW and ISR programmes and operations, where its sensing and processing technologies – such as KraitSense – deliver underwater surveillance capabilities across complex operational environments.
Guy Hope, Business Development Executive at SEA said, “Autonomous systems are reshaping how navies think about surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and communications. By integrating SEA hydrophones into OSHEN’s C-STARS platforms, this exciting project aims to demonstrate a novel approach to the deployment of scalable, affordable, low-signature sensor and communication networks.”
Operations for the DASA project are centred at Turnchapel Wharf in Plymouth, where OSHEN and ZeroUSV are based, and is a tech cluster for marine autonomy in the Southwest, with Plymouth having been named as the National Centre for Marine Autonomy. SEA will support the programme from its recently upgraded and expanded manufacturing facility in Barnstaple, North Devon, strengthening collaboration across the South West’s maritime technology sector.
Anahita Laverack, CEO at OSHEN said, “To deliver wide-area monitoring, robust and reliable performance is key. C-STARS was designed for long-endurance missions in extreme operating environments. By integrating SEA’s proven acoustic sensors on to the platform, we can enhance underwater situational awareness in a scalable and cost-effective way.”
The programme forms part of wider UK efforts to explore distributed and autonomous approaches to surface and subsea surveillance and maritime security.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sea.co.uk/
08 Apr 26 C-UAS Hub said today that JIATF 401 commits over $600 million to accelerate C-UAS capabilities.
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) has committed more than $600 million to expand counter-UAS capabilities in support of ongoing military operations, homeland defense and major public events, according to an official statement released April 6.
The funding, allocated at a record pace, supports Operation Epic Fury, domestic security requirements tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and broader infrastructure protection efforts.
Of the total, $350 million was committed during the first month of combat operations to meet urgent requirements from multiple combatant commands. The investments are intended to protect deployed forces and enhance the resilience of key operational platforms.
“This decisive action demonstrates JIATF 401’s ability to rapidly translate operational needs into fielded capability, while also remaining firmly focused on homeland defense,” said Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of the task force. “From day one, our mission has been to move with speed and purpose to keep pace with this evolving threat.”
An additional $100 million has been directed toward counter-drone systems for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The effort focuses on mobile, non-kinetic technologies designed to protect stadiums and surrounding areas across multiple host cities. These systems are expected to transition into longer-term infrastructure defense roles after the tournament.
The task force also allocated $158 million under the Domestic Shield initiative to defend high-priority defense infrastructure, following an expedited requirements and validation process.
“The speed and scale of these commitments reflect extraordinary coordination across the Department of War and interagency partners,” said Michelle Self, Deputy of the Rapid Acquisition Division. “Efforts that traditionally take years have been executed in months, demonstrating JIATF 401’s commitment to delivering operationally relevant capability at speed.”
JIATF 401 commits over $600 million to accelerate C-UAS capabilities – cuashub.com
07 Apr 26. DroneShield, a global leader in advanced counter-unmanned systems (CUxS), today announced its Q2 2026 software release, delivering coordinated updates across its RF sensing, AI, ATAK-CIV plugin, and command-and-control (C2) platforms.
DroneShield’s Q2 release is focused on a single outcome: enabling operators to make faster, more confident decisions in complex and contested airspace environments.
Drones can now be automatically classified as Friendly, Neutral, Hostile, or Unknown using serial-number-based identification and Remote ID inputs. These classifications are applied at the sensor level and carried consistently through to ATAK-CIV and C2 environments.
Combined with new emitter prioritization, operators are presented with the most relevant threats first, while low-value or background signals are suppressed. The result is a cleaner, more actionable operational picture, enabling faster interpretation and response.
Real-Time RF Awareness Inside ATAK
DroneShield has relaunched its ATAK-CIV plugin as RfLink, a fully reengineered system designed to deliver shared RF awareness across distributed teams.
RfLink enables:
- Real-time RF detection visualization within ATAK-CIV
- Line-of-bearing rendering and directional awareness via DroneSentry-X Mk2
- Enhanced Cursor-on-Target data sharing across users and devices
- Seamless propagation of identity tagging and classification rules
07 Apr 26. Industrial Electronic Engineers (IEE), a leading provider of ruggedized display systems for military applications, will be exhibiting their lineup at the Army Aviation Warfighting Summit (QUAD-A) April 15th–17th. Control Head Units (CHUs) and Control Display Units (CDUs) with a small form factor and software defined bezel controls are in-demand for their modularity and ease of integration.
The Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and standard Dzus rail mounts support ease of integration functionality and physically for these rugged displays. The screen size and resolution are ideal for presenting key data through crisp, clear multi-colored text and graphics (e.g. radio preset list). This modularity also supports matching processing and system interfaces for the specific customer application.
“Our customers appreciate that IEE facilitates ease of software/hardware integration in our CHUs/CDUs, which enables them to add capability to and accelerates delivery of that capability to the warfighter,” said Ed Fulmer, Director of Business Development at IEE. “Thanks to this open approach, our customers have been able to incrementally add new features to their system software for years after the initial fielding of the hardware, and they don’t have to come back to the hardware manufacturer to do it.”
IEE highlights include a 4.3-inch CDU and a 5-inch Avionics CDU with a keyboard.
4.3-inch Airborne Control Display Unit
One of the features of this unit is the integration of ARINC-661, which reduces certification costs, and enhances modularity for easier hardware upgrades and accelerated development.
Features:
- 4.3” Transmissive AMLCD, 480 x 272 (QWVGA)
- Brightness: NVIS to >1200 cd/m2
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (native)
- Dual Core Intel Atom E3825 processor (1.33 GHz)
- 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, 8GB SD Flash
- ARINC-661 over 10/100 Ethernet
- Controls: 5 sealed push-buttons, 2 rocker switches
- Power Input: 28VDC per MIL-STD-704F
- Operating Temperature: -40ºC to +71ºC continuous
5-inch Avionics CDU with Keyboard
This CDU had a keyboard to assist in changing data on-the-fly, and Dzus rail mounts to ensure secure, predictable placement.
Features:
- Enhanced, High Brightness 5.0” TFT Display
- Intel Atom x5-E3930 Dual Core 1.3GHz/1.8GHz (Burst) Processor
- VGA (640 x 480) AMLCD bonded with high-strength cover glass including EMI shield, heater and anti-reflective/glare treatments
- LED backlight with high-bright day (sunlight readable)
- QWERTY Style Keyboard and 12 backlit soft keys
- Rugged, lightweight, sealed enclosure fit for use in avionics applications
- Interfaces
o Gigabit Ethernet
o RS-232/422 Tx/Rx
- Mounting: Dzus rail mounts 3 captive fasteners per side
IEE is exhibiting in booth #2705, April 15th-17th. Stop by or make an appointment with Ed Fulmer by calling 1-404-641-9665 or email: .
About IEE:
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, IEE has been a trusted provider of enhanced displays for military and industrial applications. From rapid prototyping of custom designs to full-scale production runs, IEE’s factory in Sylmar, CA produces innovative displays with advanced features like low-latency video processing, including scaling, overlays and multiple images arranged in selectable configurations, high-bright and NVIS backlighting, and lightweight, ruggedized enclosures. IEE’s in-house, direct control of critical process steps reduces costs, decreases production lead times and improves lifecycle management. IEE display products are ITAR-free and distributed worldwide. IEE is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified. For more information: visit ieeinc.com
Get our updates: Linked in: Industrial Electronic Engineers
Follow us at: x.com/IEEdisplays
08 Apr 26. BAE Systems has successfully completed test firing of a low-cost precision weapon launched from a Eurofighter Typhoon, demonstrating a highly effective, affordable solution to counter uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
The APKWS® laser-guidance kit is a combat-proven, multi-mission solution manufactured by BAE Systems in the US. It is designed to counter a range of threats while enabling cost-effective operations and is already deployed with armed forces around the world.
The Company conducted the trial from its flight test development centre in Warton, Lancashire using a Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft to launch a successful strike on a ground-based target at a UK military testing range.
Richard Hamilton, Managing Director of Air Operations at BAE Systems’ Air sector, said: “As the UK’s sovereign provider of combat air capability, we play a crucial role in supporting the UK armed forces — working closely with the Ministry of Defence to develop technologies that strengthen our national defence capabilities.
“This trial with the APKWS laser-guidance kit on Typhoon demonstrates a game-changing capability and a cost-effective solution that would enhance Typhoon’s already impressive range of weapons capabilities.”
This activity, supported by RAF, will provide valuable insights into how a low-cost precision weapon could be integrated in the aircraft, particularly counter UAS weapons, where affordable interception options are needed. It also forms part of a range of capability enhancements planned for Typhoon to increase the aircraft’s potency in current and future combat air operations.
The Eurofighter Typhoon carries a wide range of advanced air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, making it the combat aircraft of choice of air forces across Europe and the Middle East. This includes Meteor long‑range air‑to‑air missiles, Storm Shadow and Brimstone air‑to‑surface weapons for deep‑strike and precision attack roles.
The APKWS laser-guidance kit enables air-to-surface and air-to-air strikes. Air forces are successfully operating it in combat on the F-16, A-10 and several other fixed-wing platforms, as well as a number of rotary-wing platforms.
06 Apr 26. US nuclear agency intends to acquire Nomad C-UAS systems. The United States National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), an agency within the Department of Energy, intends to award an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to Nomad Global Communication Solutions for counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) equipment.
The C-UAS systems will be subject to field integration, testing and validation. If successful, NNSA expects to place an order for multiple systems.
The system will be required to detect, track, identify, mitigate and defeat rogue drones.
In a partially-redacted intent to sole source notice, NNSA said Nomad is the only manufacturer at this time with the capability to provide the required system with “integrated command, control, power management and support capabilities” and “dual defeat redundancy” and with a 12-year structural warranty.
Nomad GCS announced a merger with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions on February 24, 2026.
For more information
Notice of Intent to Sole Source at SAM.gov (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
06 Apr 26. Dutch Navy takes down drone in exercise near Crete as the Army expands air defence .
The Royal Netherlands Navy reports that its Air Defence and Command Frigate (LCF) Zr.Ms. Evertsen has shot down an aerial drone. This occurred during an air defence exercise in a firing range near Crete. The frigate was training to respond to air threats during the current operation.
“HNLMS Evertsen deployed multiple weapon systems during the testing of the air defence chain,” the Dutch Ministry of Defence said. “The ship launched an anti-aircraft missile to neutralise close-range aerial targets such as drones, missiles and aircraft. The Goalkeeper rapid-fire cannon was also deployed to neutralise close-range targets.”
The ship is currently deployed in the eastern Mediterranean and is part of the French Carrier Strike Group. HNLMS Evertsen is tasked with protecting the naval task force and Cyprus against air threats.
Meanwhile, the Royal Netherlands Army has announced plans to expand its drone and counter-drone capabilities. The first phase involves approximately 600 new positions in combat units. The Army said that fighting with and against drones is a requirement in the current battlefield. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
06 Apr 26. UK RAF deploys C-UAS to Kuwait. The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force Regiment (RAF) has deployed its Rapid Sentry counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) platform to Kuwait to bolster regional security amid ongoing threats from Iran.
“This defensive deployment aligns with the UK Government’s policy to protect British personnel, interests and partners in the Middle East, while avoiding escalation into wider conflict,” the RAF said on April 2.
The RAF maintains a longstanding presence in Kuwait, and the 34 Squadron RAF Regiment is currently deployed across the Middle East, with personnel also operating in Iraq and Cyprus. (Source: C-UAS Hub)
16 Mar 26. Northrop Grumman Proposes Cannon[1]Based Air Defense System for U.S. Army Drone Threat Date: 16 March 2026 U.S. Company Northrop Grumman has proposed a Cannon-Based Air Defense system designed to provide the U.S. Army with scalable terminal protection against mass drone and subsonic cruise missile attacks. The concept centers on guided medium[1]caliber ammunition tied into layered sensors and battle management networks, aiming to lower interception costs while sustaining short-range air defense capacity. U.S. Company Northrop Grumman is advancing the Cannon-Based Air Defense (CBAD) concept as a scalable solution to counter the growing threat of drone swarms and low-flying cruise missiles targeting U.S. Army formations. The system integrates guided medium-caliber cannon ammunition with layered radar and electro-optical sensors, all linked through battle management command and control networks to enable coordinated terminal defense. By relying on precision-guided projectiles rather than high-cost interceptors, CBAD is intended to deliver sustained short-range air defense against large-volume, low-cost aerial raids. The proposal reflects Army concerns that current missile[1]based defenses may be financially and logistically strained in high[1]intensity conflicts. The CBAD (Cannon-Based Air Defense) is structured not as a standalone gun, but as an integrated defensive architecture combining battle-proven automatic cannons, advanced ammunition, surveillance radars, electro-optical trackers, and networked battle management systems. It is designed to augment existing U.S. Army air defense layers, reinforcing the terminal engagement zone that protects air bases, logistics hubs, maneuver brigades, and critical infrastructure once outer missile defenses are saturated or bypassed. The enabling technology is guided ammunition. Unlike conventional programmable airburst rounds that rely on timed detonation, guided cannon projectiles are designed to execute in[1]flight trajectory corrections toward aerial targets. Fired in small salvos, these munitions increase effective engagement range and improve the probability of kill against maneuvering unmanned aircraft systems and low-flying cruise missiles. The concept transforms the cannon from a purely ballistic area weapon into a maneuver-capable short-range interceptor.
While Northrop Grumman has not publicly released full performance data for CBAD, the concept leverages medium[1]caliber cannons such as the Bushmaster family. In U.S. Army service, the XM813 30 mm Bushmaster chain gun mounted on Stryker M-SHORAD vehicles has a cyclic rate of fire of approximately 200 rounds per minute, with effective air defense engagement ranges typically cited around 2 to 3 km, depending on ammunition type. Larger 35 mm systems, widely used in European air defense, can extend effective range beyond 4 km and deliver higher fragment mass per round. For comparison, Germany’s Rheinmetall Skynex air defense system is among the most mature modern cannon-based air defense architectures currently in service.
Skynex uses the Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 in 35 mm caliber with a rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds per minute. Its Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition releases a cloud of pre-formed tungsten sub-projectiles in front of the target, increasing lethality against drones and rockets. The effective engagement range for the 35 mm system is typically around 4 kilometers against aerial threats. Skynex integrates X-TAR3D search radars, tracking sensors, and a modular command-and-control system that coordinates multiple gun units within a networked defense grid. The key distinction between CBAD and Skynex lies in ammunition philosophy. Skynex relies on programmable airburst munitions that create dense fragmentation patterns along a predicted intercept point. CBAD, by contrast, emphasizes guided ammunition capable of multiple in-flight maneuvers, effectively narrowing the gap between traditional cannon rounds and missile interceptors. If fully matured, guided cannon rounds could extend engagement envelopes and improve the single-shot probability of kill beyond what programmable airburst alone can achieve. From the Army Recognition defense analysts’ perspective, CBAD’s primary advantage for the U.S. Army would be economic sustainability and scalability. Missile-based short-range interceptors such as Stinger have engagement ranges of roughly 4 to 8 kilometers, but at significantly higher unit cost. In saturation scenarios involving dozens or hundreds of low-cost drones, missile inventories can be rapidly depleted. Cannon systems, particularly those with high onboard ammunition capacity, offer greater magazine depth and lower cost per engagement, preserving missile stocks for higher-tier threats. In terms of rate of fire, the 30 mm XM813’s approximate 200 rounds per minute provides controlled engagement suitable for integration on maneuver platforms such as Stryker. By contrast, the 35 mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun’s 1,000 rounds per minute enables dense projectile clouds for base defense scenarios. CBAD’s scalability across calibers suggests it could be adapted to both maneuver and fixed-site defense roles, depending on platform selection. © Hawk Information 2026, MPI ISBN 1361-0228 Page 16 Operationally, both CBAD and Skynex address the same strategic reality: adversaries are expanding the quantity, variety, and expendability of aerial weapons.
Future conflicts are expected to involve significantly larger raid sizes targeting air bases and critical infrastructure. Traditional long-range interceptor missiles remain indispensable for high-performance aircraft and advanced missile threats, but they are not optimized for economically defeating mass-produced drones. CBAD’s integration with battle management command and control systems aligns with the U.S. Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture, enabling sensor-to-shooter connectivity across layered defenses. Skynex similarly operates within a modular networked structure, demonstrating that modern cannon-based systems are no longer standalone guns but digitally integrated defensive nodes. Strategically, the comparison highlights diverging but complementary approaches. European systems such as Skynex emphasize highly optimized programmable airburst lethality at known ranges, already fielded and combat-proven in counter[1]drone roles. Northrop Grumman’s CBAD concept advances toward maneuverable guided ammunition that could increase flexibility, extend effective engagement zones, and enhance resilience against agile threats. For the U.S. Army, the relevance of CBAD lies in restoring credible, scalable terminal defense while addressing the cost-exchange imbalance exposed by drone saturation warfare. Whether adopted formally under that designation or integrated into future short-range air defense modernization efforts, guided cannon[1]based systems represent a structural evolution in how ground forces defend against mass air threats in high-intensity conflict environments.(Source: Hawk Information)
06 Apr 26.
Norway increases defence investment to counter drone threat
April 1, 2026Kylie Bielby Counter-UAS systems and policies
The Norwegian Defence Ministry has said that a number of projects are underway to strengthen the country’s ability to protect against drones, both through the procurement of individual drone defence systems and as part of the procurement of other military systems.
The Norwegian Government announced on March 27 that it will allocate an additional NOK 115 billion (EUR 10.24 billion) to the ministry’s Long-term Defence Plan for the period up to 2036. NOK 31 billion (EUR 2.76 billion) of this will be provided by 2030.
The increased funding is proposed for a number of areas, including enhancing capabilities for electronic warfare, short-range air defence, drone defence and autonomy.
The Long-term Defence Plan assumes that the air defence effort will contribute to a layered integrated air defence with the ability to protect against threats from very short to long range. The Ministry of Defence said that there has been a “significant development” in the air threat and in relevant countermeasures, and that this is expected to continue.
“Protection against drones has become more important. Missiles and drone defence systems are examples of areas where rapid technological development is expected to make increasingly effective capabilities available,” the ministry said.
Updates to the sensor systems on the existing NASAMS air defence are underway to extend the service life of the current radar. The Norwegian government will also strengthen the performance of NASAMS through the acquisition of new radar. The phasing in of the four new NASAMS batteries will begin one year later.
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
06 Apr 26.
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
06 Apr 26.
Ukraine’s General Cherry plans C-UAS US interceptor assembly with Wilcox
April 2, 2026Philip Butterworth-Hayes Counter-UAS systems and policies
In a Linkedin post, Ukrainian FPV drone company General Cherry has announced it plans to set up a production line in the USA with partner Wilcox Industries.
“It will produce FPV and interceptor drones, proven in real combat. Development will be led by General Cherry team. Production will be based at Wilcox’s facility in New Hampshire.”
The plans will need to be approved Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
According to an article in the Kyiv Independent news portal:
“General Cherry makes the Bullet interceptor drone as well as a massive number of FPVs. The company also participated in the “Gauntlet” contest to sell drones to the Pentagon as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Drone Dominance Program. The deal resembles a series of “Build With Ukraine” agreements that put Ukrainian weapons producers into European factories. The Ukrainian government has promoted a network of export offices in cities such as Copenhagen and Berlin.”
For more information
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7444350070151471104/
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
06 Apr 26.
Lithuania urgently bolsters air defence/C-UAS capabilities
April 3, 2026Philip Butterworth-Hayes Counter-UAS systems and policies
Around 25% of Lithuania’s military procurement budget in 2026 is allocated to air defence and airspace surveillance, according to a post on X by the country’s defence department. “Radar networks are expanding, counter-drone systems are being deployed, and systems like NASAMS, MSHORAD & VSHORAD Piorun are arriving.”
Saab is providing Mobile Short Range Air Defence (MSHORAD) systems integrated on JLTV vehicles and Kongsberg NASAMS medium-range systems are also being acquired. In October 2024, Lithuania signed an EUR 234 million contract for additional NASAMS medium-range systems to enhance existing coverage, with deliveries expected in April 2026 for the 1st Division.
Poland’s APS is supplying counter-UAS systems while Spain has deployed Indra Crow C-UAS equipment to Šiauliai Air Base, to enhance NATO’s eastern flank protection against potential drone threats from Russia and Belarus.
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
06 Apr 26.
Global government spending on counter-UAS systems reaches USD29 billion in first three months of 2026
April 5, 2026Philip Butterworth-Hayes Counter-UAS systems and policies
Spending on counter-UAS systems (C-UAS) by governments around the world reached more than USD29 billion in publicly announced contracts during the first three months of 2026, according to the latest update of Unmanned Airspace’s Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory.
While the USA and Ukraine account for most of the spending in this market, major new programmes for layered C-UAS defensive systems have also been announced in Colombia, Nigeria, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
In March 2026 the US Army awarded Anduril Industries a firm-fixed-price contract with a cumulative total of USD20 billion of for the ten-year supply of C-UAS systems, including the proprietary, open-architecture, AI-enabled Lattice suite, integrated hardware, data, computer infrastructure, and technical support services. The second largest publicly-recorded C-UAS contact was Poland’s SAN CUAS Programme, worth USD4.2 billion, which awarded to a consortium of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) to provide a “drone wall shield” on the country’s eastern border.
Meanwhile, partner countries within the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme – a NATO initiative launched in July 2025 enabling allies to fund the purchase of US-made weapons and ammunition for Ukraine – in February 2026 announced one of the largest support budgets for Ukraine, totalling USD38 billion for 2026, with USD2 billion allocated to air defence. Spending on C-UAS systems is likely to be far higher than this. Germany said it will fund an anti-drone shield over Ukrainian cities, as well as drone assault units, as part of its USD13 billion budget for assistance to Ukraine. Norway and the UK are contributing approximately USD700 million each to air defence, with other countries, such as Turkiye, also providing dedicated air defence assistance.
Urgent operational requirements among Arab Gulf states have also led to significant purchases of C-UAS systems. Ukrainian successes in bringing down Russian-adapted Shahed drones has meant that Ukraine will have a long-term industrial air defence presence among these states as they partner to pursue counter-drone capabilities, military training and industrial partnerships including research and production.
“The race is now on, in terms of technology, to develop AI-based layered counter-UAS systems which can quickly identify drone threats and choose from a range of mitigation technologies to affordably counter each threat, either individually or as swarms”, said the Directory editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes. “But C-UAS technology has evolved to broadly meet the threat. Now the challenge is one of scale. In other words, the challenge of intercepting swarms of cheap, lethal drones is no longer a technical one, it is an issue of logistical supply.”
According to a recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies: “Based on reports from two Gulf states, the overall interception rate appears high…. Although not independently verified by the United States, these rates are consistent with Ukrainian interception rates when Ukraine has an adequate inventory of air defense systems.”
“Affordability and reliability are becoming increasingly important differentiators for both hardware and software developers,” said Butterworth-Hayes. “For industry, one of the key challenges is to get their message across to procurement agencies about the niche capabilities of their systems in a very crowded market. There are now more than 70 manufacturers of intercept drones, for example, which gives procurers a complex challenge in understanding how new mitigation systems can be integrated into their current air defence/C-UAS capabilities.”
Significant national C-UAS strategic C-UAS programmes January-March 2026
January
Colombia The Colombian Government has announced a six billion-plus Colombian pesos (USD 1.6 billion) National Anti-Drone Shield project, to protect strategic infrastructures.
Germany The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) commissioned ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH and HENSOLDT to equip the “Defense System against Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” (ASUL) with kinetic weapon. HENSOLDT also received European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) orders from Diehl Defence worth over EUR100 million as part of the German European Sky Shield Initiative.
India Zen Technologies received orders worth Rs 404 crore (USD4 million plus) from the Indian Ministry of Defence.
India The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a 100 crore (USD11 million) contract to Hyderabad-based Indrajaal for the supply of multi-layered autonomous anti-drone systems to deploy its multi-layered autonomous anti-drone systems to protect key Indian Army and Indian Navy installations.
International The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) co-led a EUR30 million all-European Series A financing round to back TYTAN Technologies alongside Armira, with Visionaries Club, OTB Ventures, Lakestar, Magnetic, D3 and 10x Group.
Poland Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and consortium partner Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) signed a contract with the Polish Armaments Agency for the delivery of C-UAS systems for its SAN CUAS programme (see introduction). The contract, which is worth about NOK 16 billion (USD16 million) to Kongsberg, entails the delivery of 18 C-UAS batteries. Poland’s SAN CUAS Programme, worth USD4.2 billion, was awarded to a consortium of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) in January 2026
USA The Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 announced the first acquisition under the Replicator 2 initiative, awarding a contract for two advanced DroneHunter F700 systems
USA the US Air Force awarded a USD490 million UAS and C-UAS contract to Trust Automation for the rapid research, development, prototyping, demonstration, evaluation, production and transition of C-UAS capabilities
February
International 2026 Ondas subsidiary Airobotics received a multi-million dollar order from a European customer in a NATO country for its Iron Drone Raider C-UAS platform.
Israel Elbit Systems Ltd was awarded several contracts with an aggregate amount of over USD100 million by the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D/MAFAT) within the Israel Ministry of Defense, for the development of advanced digitization capabilities for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF
Netherlands The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced plans to invest in a string of radars along its North Sea coast. “The area is home to vital infrastructure such as oil and gas platforms, subsea pipelines, wind farms and data cables, all of which are vulnerable to sabotage and hybrid threats,” said the ministry.
USA Fortem Technologies announced it had been awarded a three-year, USD18 million contract by the United States Army to provide counter-drone solutions and support services. In the same month the company also announced it had received a multi-million-dollar order to protect US venues at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
USA BAE Systems was chosen to fulfil a US Department of War requirement for a Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON) Dual Mode Air to Air C-UAS weapon system “using Long Wave Infrared seeker, mid-body warhead with dual safe proximity fuze, and modified guidance sections.”
USA Parsons Corporation secured a USD 91 million contract extension for the Overseas Security Installation Services (OSIS II) contract administered by the US Department of State. The scope of services includes C-UAS for US diplomatic facilities, including embassies and consulates around the world. This is the seventh option year award of a 10-year contract, and part of a broader nearly USD 1.12 billion OSIS II contract.
March
Nigeria MARSS and the Nigerian Ministry of Defence signed a USD190 million plus deal to deliver, with local partners, Nigeria’s first fully integrated national defence architecture.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed multiple contracts with Gulf states for air defence, counter-drone capabilities, military training, industrial partnerships including research and production.
Ukraine Quantum Systems has been tasked to provide 15,000 interceptor drones to the National Guard of Ukraine.
USA The US Army awarded Anduril Industries a firm-fixed-price contract with a cumulative total of USD20 billion of for the ten-year supply of C-UAS systems.
USA The US Department of War announced a contract, valued at USD6.1 million, for the purchase of 210 SmartShooter Smash 2000LE systems and one AeroVironment Titan Cerberus XL system, to protect US bases and installations from drone attacks. Additionally, two AeroVironment radar systems have been assigned to support the National Capital Region in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, enhancing the region’s ability to detect and counter emerging UAS threats
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
03 Apr 26 C-UAS Hub said today that
Italian lawmakers propose fishing net donations to support Ukraine’s anti-drone defenses
- April 2, 2026
- Adam Jeffs
Italian lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at supporting Ukraine’s expanding use of anti-drone netting, proposing to repurpose discarded fishing nets as a low-cost defensive measure against drone threats.
The bill, put forward in the Italian Senate, would incentivize fishing companies to donate used nets by exempting them from disposal costs and offering payments based on the weight of materials delivered.
Low-cost defense against drone attacks
The proposal comes as Ukraine increases the installation of overhead netting along roads in frontline areas, particularly in areas such as the Kharkiv region, where drone attacks on vehicles and infrastructure have intensified.
The nets are intended to physically disrupt incoming drones, particularly small first-person view systems, by entangling propellers before they can strike targets.
“Fishing nets used in the Mediterranean for millennia are an effective countermeasure against a weapon of death,” said Ivan Scalfarotto during a news conference.
He added that while simple, the nets can complement more advanced counter-drone systems.
According to the draft legislation, similar efforts are already underway across Europe, with charitable organizations in countries including the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom and France contributing fishing nets to Ukraine.
Scalfarotto introduced the bill in mid-March and said he expects support from other pro-Ukraine parties to help accelerate its passage.
Scaling a basic but effective solution
The initiative aligns with a broader effort by Ukraine to make anti-drone netting a standard layer of protection near the front lines.
Ukraine’s defense authorities have outlined plans to install an additional 4,000 kilometers of protective netting over roads in frontline and border regions by the end of 2026. These covered routes are intended to protect both military logistics and civilian movement in areas where drones are increasingly used to target vehicles, emergency responders and infrastructure.
Installation rates have increased in recent months, with officials working to accelerate deployment as part of wider fortification efforts in northern and eastern regions.
While basic in design, the use of fishing nets reflects the growing need for scalable, low-cost countermeasures as drone threats continue to evolve in both frequency and complexity.
RELATED CONTENT: Ukraine fields new interceptor drone to counter Shahed-type threats
Post Image Credit: Ukraine MoD
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Adam Jeffs
- April 2, 2026
- Articles and News
- Content Types: Counter-UAS, Defense
- DE-AN, Netting, Russia, Ukraine
Italian lawmakers propose fishing net donations to support Ukraine’s anti-drone defenses – cuashub.com
03 Apr 26 C-UAS Hub said today that
Pentagon weighs deploying anti-drone laser near Washington base amid airspace concerns
- April 1, 2026
- Adam Jeffs
The Pentagon is considering deploying a high-powered counter-drone laser system near a military installation in Washington, D.C., following reports of unusual drone activity in the area.
According to multiple officials familiar with the discussions, the U.S. Army is evaluating the potential use of the system at Fort Lesley J. McNair, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintain residences.
Drone sightings prompt security review
The discussions follow a series of reported drone sightings near the installation, raising concerns about possible surveillance targeting senior U.S. officials. While authorities have not identified a credible threat, the activity has prompted increased counter-drone measures in the area.
Heather Chairez, a spokeswoman for an Army-led joint task force in the national capital region, said she was “aware of the reported drone sightings near Fort McNair and the surrounding areas.” She added that while there was no confirmed threat, anti-drone efforts had been increased “to keep our service members and civilians who work and live on Fort McNair safe.”
Officials have not confirmed whether the laser system will ultimately be deployed.
Airspace safety concerns complicate plans
Any decision to position the system near Fort McNair would introduce additional challenges in one of the most tightly controlled and heavily trafficked airspaces in the United States.
The installation sits just a few miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a major civilian hub. The proximity has drawn scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration, which has raised safety concerns about the use of directed-energy systems in shared airspace.
An FAA spokesperson said the agency looks forward to working with the Pentagon and other stakeholders “to protect the homeland while ensuring the safety of the national airspace system,” but declined to comment directly on the potential deployment at Fort McNair.
The issue comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety following recent incidents, including a fatal midair collision over the Potomac River.
Ongoing dispute over laser use
The debate over deploying counter-drone lasers is not limited to Washington. The Pentagon and the FAA have been engaged in a dispute over the use of such systems along the U.S.-Mexico border, where officials have explored their use against drone activity linked to cartels.
At the center of those discussions is a system known as LOCUST, developed by AeroVironment. The technology is designed to disable or destroy drones using directed energy, offering a potential alternative to more expensive missile-based interceptors.
FAA officials have expressed concerns about the risk lasers could pose to aircraft or pilots, particularly in congested airspace. The agency has considered issuing advisories to pilots in areas where the systems may be used, though details remain under discussion.
Recent testing of the laser system at White Sands Missile Range sought to address some of those concerns. According to Lt. Col. Adam Scher, the system was fired at a jet aircraft during testing without causing structural damage.
“The laser caused no structural damage to the aircraft,” Scher said. “The system acted exactly as was expected every time.”
Even so, FAA officials have continued to review the potential risks, as interagency negotiations continue over how and where the technology can be deployed.
Balancing cost and capability
The push to expand laser-based counter-drone systems comes as U.S. officials look for more cost-effective ways to counter small drone threats.
During a March 9 briefing, President Donald Trump highlighted the potential of directed-energy systems as a lower-cost alternative to traditional interceptors.
“The laser technology that we have now is incredible,” he said. “It’s coming out pretty soon, where literally lasers will do the work of – at a lot less cost – do the work of what the Patriots are doing, and what other things are doing.”
For now, any deployment near Fort McNair remains under consideration, with officials weighing the benefits of the increased protection against the risks posed to one of the country’s most sensitive airspaces.
Pentagon weighs deploying anti-drone laser near Washington base amid airspace concerns – cuashub.com
06 Apr 26.
US Army wants new grenade launcher, ammunition to be able to destroy drones
By Michael Peck
Apr 6, 2026, 02:38 PM
FN America’s MTL-30 Precision Grenadier System prototype. (FN America)
After two decades of searching for a new grenade launcher, the U.S. Army appears to be zeroing in on a choice.
The Army is seeking prototypes for the Precision Grenadier System, which will replace the M203 and M320 grenade launchers.
In a nod to modern battlefield conditions, the PGS will incorporate drone-killing tech in addition to offering troops the capability to engage targets behind defilade such as walls.
The PGS “will be a man-portable, target engagement system that enables the squad to organically incapacitate enemy personnel targets in defilade, in close quarters battle and unmanned aerial systems with quick and precise fire,” according to the Army solicitation, which is due by May 11.
The solicitation calls for prototype submissions that include 16 weapons, fire controls systems and around 25,000 rounds of ammunition, with a mix of counter-defilade, counter-drone, close quarter battle and training rounds.
The Army plans to award two Other Transaction Agreements for prototypes. The ultimate goal is to issue two grenade launchers per rifle squad.
The hunt for a next-generation grenade goes back to the 2008 Small Arms Capabilities-Based Assessment, which examined combat lessons from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
Among the findings was that the Army needed a grenade launcher that can hit targets in defilade out to 500 meters. The current 40mm M203, and its successor the M320, have an effective range of 350 meters.
“Warfighters lack the ability to achieve desired accuracy and incapacitating effects against personnel targets in defilade [protected from hostile ground observation and flat projecting fire by an obstacle, such as a wall or hill], at ranges out to 500 meters,” the small-arms study noted.
For a time, the solution appeared to be the 25mm XM25 “Punisher.” But that program was canceled in 2018 amid cost and performance concerns, leaving troops to rely on the older grenade launchers firing airburst rounds, as well as the Carl Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifle.
An RFI for the Precision Grenadier System in 2020 listed a variety of desired capabilities. In particular, it sought a breaching capability capable of blasting “solid wood doors 1.5 inches thick, windows, and gates, at 50 meters.”
It also asked for an armor-piercing round “capable of a hitting a lightly armored vehicle out to a minimum engagement distance to 500 meters day or night with an armor penetration of between 1.0 to 2.0 inches at 90 degrees rolled homogenous armor.”
The 2026 solicitation doesn’t mention breaching or anti-armor capabilities. It does call for hitting “enemy combatants, their personal equipment, and thin-skinned targets in defilade positions, while limiting collateral damage.”
(Source: Defense News)
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