US Army is seeking counter drone swarm technologies  

The topic of counter-drone strategies took the spotlight at this year’s Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference, as the U.S. Army issued a challenge to the industry to develop innovative methods for combating the threat posed by swarms of drones.

The Army’s Innovation Team, with the goal of safeguarding the Pentagon against small drones, is planning a groundbreaking demonstration in June 2024. The challenge is to counter an organized group of 50 flying drones, commonly referred to as a drone swarm. Industry players, ranging from large corporations to small businesses, have been diligently working on a variety of solutions, encompassing weapons, wireless networks, and lasers.

The U.S. Department of Defense has conventionally categorized drones into five distinct groups based on size and functionality, with Group 1 representing the smallest drones and Group 5 comprising the largest and most advanced, such as the MQ-9 Reaper.

During the AUSA conference, major defense companies like BAE Systems unveiled modifications to their existing platforms. Notably, they showcased the capability to mount a 30mm cannon on a rail affixed to an armored multi-purpose vehicle, alongside other military equipment. Major General Sean Gainey, Director of the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), emphasized the effectiveness of the 30mm cannon against small UAVs. He also highlighted advanced technologies, such as the Army’s proprietary Coyote interceptor and Lockheed Martin’s MORFIUS system, which employs microwaves to disable drone electronics.

In addition to major players, smaller vendors like Dedrone have entered the arena with their own anti-drone solutions. Dedrone’s approach involves the integration of third-party hardware with their proprietary software. Furthermore, the company has ventured into the development of its own technologies, including radio frequency sensors capable of detecting incoming drone threats.