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Throughout 2024, Defense Advancement has explored the cutting-edge developments driving innovation in Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) technology.
As drones become increasingly prevalent in both commercial and military domains, the need for robust CUAS solutions has become a top priority for defense forces worldwide. These technologies are critical in neutralizing threats, ensuring operational security, and maintaining dominance in contested airspaces.
Advances in radar systems, electronic warfare, AI-driven detection, and kinetic and non-kinetic neutralization methods highlight the sophisticated approaches being employed to counter evolving drone threats.
From integrated defense systems to portable CUAS platforms, this year has witnessed significant progress in empowering militaries to detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones across a variety of operational scenarios.
Below are five standout articles from 2024 that showcase the latest advancements in CUAS technology, illustrating their growing importance and future potential in modern defense strategies.
1. CUAS High Energy Laser Systems Support for U.S. Army
BlueHalo has been awarded a four-year logistics support contract to provide preventative and corrective maintenance along with operator and maintenance team training for BlueHalo’s P-HEL system.
The Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) system, developed by BlueHalo in support of the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), has a proven track record of successful Counter-UAS; engaging and eliminating small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) threats to forces and critical infrastructure, which is a rapidly growing concern to U.S. battlefield dominance.
This newly awarded contract establishes BlueHalo as the full-cycle lead system integrator from prototype development to frontline operations for the P-HEL system.
2. NATO Ally Awards Contract for SCORPION ECM Systems
Allen-Vanguard, a global leader in providing customized solutions for defeating Radio Frequency (RF) controlled terrorist and extremist threats, has won a significant contract to supply 68 SCORPION Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) systems, accessories and spares to a NATO ally.
In addition to the hardware, Allen-Vanguard will also provide various support services, including a Train the Trainer (T3) package, to ensure that end users are fully equipped, trained, and prepared to deploy this vital life-saving capability as needed with full operational autonomy.
In line with Allen-Vanguard’s philosophy of developing a full sovereign capability for their clients, the T3 package will ensure that the end user can train and evaluate their own personnel on the SCORPION hardware now and into the future.
3. Enhancing CUAS with Advanced IR Thermal Imaging Lenses
Ophir Optics is aware that the rapid proliferation of drones in recent years has introduced significant security challenges for both military and civilian entities, hastening the development of Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technologies designed to detect, identify, and neutralize such threats.
Among the key technologies employed in C-UAS platforms, infrared (IR) imaging plays a pivotal role in enabling the detection, identification, and tracking of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).
Ophir, as a leader in precision optics, has developed state-of-the-art long-range IR continuous zoom lenses tailored for integration into advanced C-UAS platforms, offering superior identification and targeting capabilities.
4. Utilizing Backpack-Mounted C-UAS Technology for Complex Operations
D-Fend Solutions is a provider of RF-Cyber based counter-drone technologies for military forces and security agencies, including the EnforceAir2 Backpack Deployment Kit.
Employing compact, backpack-mounted counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), special forces teams are able to rapidly neutralize drone threats and conduct covert missions without interruption.
This highlights an emerging challenge in modern security: rogue drones are becoming an increasing threat in sensitive, hard-to-reach areas. From covert surveillance to delivering payloads, malicious actors can use drones to jeopardize military operations, law enforcement efforts, and critical infrastructure—even in the most difficult terrains.
5. Enhancing Critical Infrastructure Security with Radar
Echodyne discusses enhancing security with radar at critical infrastructure, including airports and ports, electric generation and transmission plants, and nuclear sites, as they face a variety of adversarial threats.Historically, these facilities only needed to be concerned with tracking potential terrestrial adversaries. However, as drones are becoming more accessible and more common, threats to these facilities have taken to the skies.
Drones are interrupting airport operations, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now receiving more than 100 reports per month of uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) sightings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI are also seeing more incidents of drones attempting to damage electric generation and water/wastewater treatment facilities or posing cybersecurity threats to corporations or large data centers.
While traditional critical infrastructure security systems consisting of devices such as cameras and thermal sensors, and maybe an RF sensor or human guard, have provided adequate critical infrastructure security in the past, these systems are not sufficient for detecting new aerial threats.
Find out more about CUAS solutions and the latest in this game-changing technology here >>
