Eight counter-UAS systems — wielding a mix of radars, machineguns, missiles, jammers, and more — were tested against swarms of up to 50 drones of different types attacking simultaneously from different directions and speeds.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Advances in radar are key to countering the modern drone warfare and missile threat
Drones, high-speed cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles attacking together from 360° creates complexity only certain radars can handle.
“It is an urgent issue. … We need counter UAS capabilities at scale,” said Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante. “We need lots of money, we need production lines to go up fast.”
By Michael Marrow
Counter-drone strategy was a key theme at this year’s AUSA conference, ahead of an Army challenge to industry to take out dozens of UAVs at a time.
By Michael Marrow
Threatened by drones that can work collaboratively and without GPS or a command link, it’s important to have radars that can detect hundreds of incoming tracks so they can be defeated.
By Breaking Defense
Advanced capabilities, like lasers and high-power microwave, will have to work in tandem with bullets or jamming to defeat drones threats as they evolve.
By Andrew Eversden “It’s one thing to do a coordinated attack that looks like a swarm. It’s another thing to have one operator, multiple devices, some seeking, some looking for targets, some killing targets and interacting together without you pushing a button,” Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood said.
By Jaspreet Gill
Half of the companies invited to participate in a counter-drone demonstration this September ended up skipping it due to COVID-19.
By Valerie Insinna
What weapons and engines will let loyal wingmen drones hit their potential?
In the fourth video in our CCA series, Breaking Defense looks in the details for the future fleet. For the full CCA video series click here.
“We’re painting with broad strokes, but we’re diving into what missions of the future will look like. The technology is not quite Star Wars, but we’re getting close,” said Jeremy Murray-Krezan, AFRL’s directed energy deputy chief scientist, says.
By Theresa Hitchens
“I think it’s September you’ll see us open up up the aperture, looking at other capabilities besides low collateral effects,” said Stan Darbro, Army RCCTO deputy.
By Theresa Hitchens
“Low-collateral effect interceptors” against small drones would be used in “defeating small UAS in urban environments, over sensitive sites, or situations where the rules of engagement would not allow kinetic effects,” DoD’s solicitation to industry says.
By Theresa Hitchens
In April, the Yuma, Ariz. test range will host a competition of “low collateral damage” countermeasures designed to stop mini-drones without firing a shot. But can such a restrained approach stop the drone swarms Russia and others are developing?
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
A parallel joint requirements document will be briefed to industry Oct. 30, Maj. Gen. Sean Gainey, head of the Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems office, says.
By Theresa Hitchens
THOR puts high-powered microwaves to fry drone swarms’ electronics in a rugged and deployable package.
By Theresa Hitchens
