GPS World

Tag: counter UAV

  • Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates counter-drone technology at Defense Expo

    Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates counter-drone technology at Defense Expo

    Rohde & Schwarz has demonstrated its latest advancements in counter-drone technology at CUAS Expo 2025 at Thorney Island. The display featured an integrated system that included the ARDRONIS Wi-Fi detection solution and ARDRONIS Locate Advanced localization solution, along with the newly released ARDRONIS Effect configured as a multiband jammer.

    At the event, Rohde & Schwarz showcased how its comprehensive counter-drone system detects, identifies and neutralizes rogue drones regardless of their operating frequency. The demonstration showed the system’s ability to manage non-cooperative and non-compliant devices operating outside established regulations.

    ARDRONIS Effect in the Multiband Jammer configuration was a key highlight, demonstrating its unique wideband architecture which enables it to simultaneously jam multiple frequency bands, providing unparalleled protection against a diverse range of drone threats. Unlike traditional jamming solutions, ARDRONIS Effect in the Multiband Jammer configuration doesn’t rely on pre-defined frequencies, making it highly effective against drones operating on unconventional or rapidly changing frequencies.

    ARDRONIS Locate Advanced complemented the jammer by providing precise drone detection and localization, allowing attendees to witness the system’s ability to quickly identify the location of drones and enable informed response decisions. The integrated system delivered a comprehensive view of situational awareness and robust protection capabilities.

    Rohde & Schwarz said it received interest from attendees at CUAS Expo 2025 and had conversations about customer requirements. The company is following up with agencies and CUAS system integrators to discuss potential deployments of the ARDRONIS system.

    “Discussions with attendees underscored the growing concern surrounding non-compliant drone activity and the need for adaptable, wideband solutions like ours,” said Christopher Mantle, business development manager for UK Land EW and Communications at Rohde & Schwarz.

  • DroneShield releases major firmware release for its C-UAS devices

    DroneShield releases major firmware release for its C-UAS devices

    DroneShield RfPatrol body-worn C-UAS device with enrolled firmware upgrades. (Photo: DroneShield)
    DroneShield RfPatrol body-worn C-UAS device with enrolled firmware upgrades. (Photo: DroneShield)

    DroneShield has begun releasing a software update across its counter-unmanned-aerial-system (C-UAS) devices, including portable, vehicle-based and fixed-site devices. The devices are used by the military, the intelligence community, U.S. Homeland Security, law enforcement, critical infrastructure and others.

    The updates will be rolling out across DroneShield devices globally in the coming week, with heightened urgency given the widespread use of drones in Ukrainian and Middle Eastern conflicts. The technology upgrade is validated by deployments with the U.S. Air Force and Australian Army.

    Enrolled devices receive quarterly firmware updates of the proprietary DroneShield RFAI artificial intelligence engine. Some of these updates are major enhancements, such as this 2Q22 release.

    Major upgrades include:

    • Site Install Wizard. The new Spectrum Viewer mode, in which C-UAS detection devices scan the deployment area for optimal sensor placement
    • Machine Learning in the Loop. This option enhances the RFAI engine from the data received by the user.

    Both features were added in response to end-user requirements.

  • DroneShield and Teledyne FLIR join on drone detection

    DroneShield and Teledyne FLIR join on drone detection

    DroneShield Limited and Teledyne FLIR are collaborating on a joint sensing and mitigation solution for unmanned aerial threats.

    Teledyne FLIR is extending its counter-UAS thermal-imaging sensing technology to the DroneShield platform, which has developed and applied its artificial intelligence and machine-learning software algorithms via radiofrequency (RF) sensing and computer vision technologies.

    The addition of Teledyne FLIR thermal camera hardware and expertise will enable military customers to improve detection, including identifying and tracking numerous unmanned threats in the thermal and RF spectrums at considerable range, providing the capability within a single system.

    A major Western military agency will be deploying the combined system at one of the best-known military testing ranges in the world.

    The DroneShield DroneSentry-C2 command-and-control system with Teledyne FLIR thermal imaging sensing technology. (Screenshot: DroneShield)
    The DroneShield DroneSentry-C2 command-and-control system with Teledyne FLIR thermal imaging sensing technology. (Screenshot: DroneShield)

  • Power of THOR ready to down enemy drones

    Power of THOR ready to down enemy drones

    The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has developed a counter-swarm high-power weapon to deter enemy drones — THOR.

    THOR stands for Tactical High-power Operational Responder, a counter-swarm electromagnetic weapon for airbase defense. Although AFRL’s THOR is not a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder and lightning, the system provides non-kinetic defeat of multiple targets. It operates from ground power and uses energy to disable drones.

    The THOR drone deterrent designed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. (Photo: AFRL)
    The THOR drone deterrent designed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. (Photo: AFRL)

    “THOR is essentially a high-powered electromagnetic source that we put together to specifically defeat drones,” said Stephen Langdon, chief of the High-Powered Microwave Technologies Branch of AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate.

    AFRL is located at  Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. A demonstration system has been built and tested on military test ranges near the base, where it has successfully engaged multiple targets. Further testing against a larger set of drone types in swarming configurations is being planned.

    THOR stores in a 20-foot transport container, which can be transported in a C-130 aircraft. The system can be set up within three hours and has a user interface that requires little training.

    The technology, which cost roughly $15 million to develop, uses high-power electromagnetics to counter electronic effect. When a target is identified, the silent weapon discharges with nearly instantaneous impact.

    With much of the necessary basic research previously completed at AFRL, THOR was rapidly developed and tested in 18 months.

    Although there are other drone defensive systems available, including guns, nets and laser systems, THOR will most likely to extend the engagement range to effect and decrease the engagement time over the other deterrent devices.

    Langdon said the THOR team hopes to transfer the technology to a System Program Office soon in order to get it into the hands of U.S. warfighters as soon as possible.

    AFRL exhibited THOR at the 2019 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and Virginia, Sept. 16-18.

  • DroneSentry-X counter UAV system mounts on vehicles

    DroneSentry-X counter UAV system mounts on vehicles

    Photo: DroneShield
    Photo: DroneShield

    DroneShield has released a vehicle-mounted drone detection and defeat product, DroneSentry-X.

    Lightweight at about 10 kilograms, it can be easily mounted on most vehicles. DroneShield expects the product to be of interest to military, law enforcement, security and VIP the markets. The product is suitable for both vehicle/convoy and fixed site installations. The product was developed in response to substantial customer interest, according to the company.

    “Vehicle market for counterdrone protection is rapidly rising,” said DroneShield’s CEO Oleg Vornik. “In addition to catering for that segment, DroneSentry-X provides a more affordable detect-and-defeat solution for price-sensitive customers as an alternative to purchasing full-functionality DroneSentry product from us. DroneShield offers a complete suite of detection and defeat solutions to our customers, and this new product covers the customer need which we identified in our recent engagements.”

  • U.S. Army awards Raytheon $191M contract for anti-UAV radar

    U.S. Army awards Raytheon $191M contract for anti-UAV radar

    KuRFS radars address urgent operational need against drone threats.

    The U.S. Army awarded Raytheon Company a $191 million contract for Ku-band radio frequency radars. KuRFS, an advanced electronically scanned array system, fills an immediate U.S. Army operational need for a counter-unmanned aerial vehicle radar, Raytheon said.

    Already deployed, KuRFS delivers precision fire control as well as “sense and warn” capability for multiple missions including detection of swarming UAS threats, as well as rocket, artillery and mortar threats.

    Raytheon's KuRFS radar is a multi-mission radar providing detection of UAS threats as well as rocket, artillery and mortar by providing a critical sense and warn capability. (Photo: Raytheon)
    Raytheon’s KuRFS radar. (Photo: Raytheon)

    “Seeing threats — like swarming drones — as soon as possible on the battlefield is essential to protecting critical assets and saving soldiers’ lives,” said Andrew Hajek, senior director of tactical radars at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. “KuRFS makes this possible by delivering a unique combination 360-degree situational awareness, precision and mobility.”

    KuRFS enables defense against multiple threat types through integration with the Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System, 50-caliber guns and 30-mm cannons. The radar also supports high-energy laser and the Coyote weapon system in both a ground-mounted or vehicle-mounted configuration, Raytheon said.

    Raytheon’ KuRFS is able to quickly address the urgent needs of the army through a model of rapid-turn development and deployment, the company added. This reduces time to fielding, while providing enhanced flexibility to adapt to a quickly-changing threat environment in the drone space.

  • Enhanced Stinger missile counters enemy UAVs

    Enhanced Stinger missile counters enemy UAVs

    U.S. Army completes qualification testing for new Stinger missile proximity fuze.

    The new proximity fuze enables the Stinger missile to destroy a wider array of battlefield threats such as enemy unmanned aircraft systems. (Photo: U.S. Army)
    The new proximity fuze enables the Stinger missile to destroy a wider array of battlefield threats such as enemy unmanned aircraft systems. (Photo: U.S. Army)

    The U.S. Army has completed qualification testing for a new proximity fuze that significantly enhances the combat-proven Stinger missile produced by Raytheon Company.

    The proximity fuze detonates the warhead if the missile passes within a certain radius of the target, creating a cloud of shrapnel that eliminates the target.

    During testing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in April 2017, the upgraded weapon system scored a perfect 100 percent hit rate against a variety of targets. The missiles were shoulder- and vehicle-launched.

    The new proximity fuze enables the lightweight, self-contained air defense system to destroy a wider array of battlefield threats such as enemy unmanned aircraft systems by detonating the missile’s warhead near the target, while maintaining its hit-to-kill capability.

    “Equipped with a new proximity fuze, Stinger is an affordable, near-term and proven solution for countering emerging threats in the battlespace,” said Kim Ernzen, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president. “Together with the Army, we are putting the most capable Stinger yet into the hands of our brave men and women on the battlefield.”

    https://youtu.be/h75hxN-hcMQ

    With qualification testing complete, the Army can move toward a near-term fielding under an Urgent Materiel Release. Plans call for the new proximity fuze to be integrated into Stinger missiles as part of a Service Life Extension Program to be conducted at the Army’s ammunition plant in McAlester, Oklahoma.

    Combat proven, the Stinger missile has more than 270 fixed- and rotary-wing intercepts to its credit. It’s deployed in more than 18 nations and with all four U.S. military services. The weapon can be rapidly deployed by ground troops and on military platforms, and has been integrated for use on the Apache Attack Helicopter.

  • Venezuelan assassination attempt highlights need for UAV security

    Two drones armed with explosives detonated near Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Aug. 4 in an apparent assassination attempt that took place while he was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers, while the speech was being broadcast live on television, according to press reports.

    The footage of this apparent assassination attempt can be viewed below.

    Drone security solutions company DroneShield issued a statement about the incident. 

    “The history of commercial drone incidents involving heads of state goes back to September 2013 when the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s public appearance was disrupted by a drone, which was apparently a publicity stunt by a competing political party,” said Oleg Vornik, DroneShield’s CEO.

    “Yesterday’s apparent drone assassination attempt on Venezuelan President Maduro is the first known drone attack on a head of state. An attempted drone assassination of a sitting sovereign leader demonstrates that, sadly, the era of drone terrorism has well and truly arrived,” Vornik said.

    “Technological progress cannot be reversed, and going forward, the security of any asset whose perimeter is protected two-dimensionally on the ground will need to be also protected in the third dimension — from attacks from the air,” Vornik added.

    DroneShield supplies counterdrone (counter unmanned aerial system/counter unmanned aerial vehicle/c-UAS) products, which have been successfully deployed in a variety of situations by third parties.

    The company’s products have been deployed for counterdrone security at, among others:

    • an ASEAN meeting of heads of state,
    • several Boston Marathon events over the years,
    • the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics and
    • the 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games.

    Also, a Middle Eastern ministry of defense recently placed a multi-million dollar order for DroneShield’s anti-drone equipment.

    The company expect that this latest incident involving a head of state will result in governments around the world accelerating their implementation of anti-drone mitigation measures.

  • Sensofusion’s counter-UAS Airfence preps for production with DOD

    Sensofusion’s counter-UAS Airfence preps for production with DOD

    In the spring of 2017, the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) — via the Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) — engaged in a one-year prototype contract with Sensofusion to develop a ground-based mobile counter-UAS solution stemming from Sensofusion’s pre-existing core product Airfence.

    Sensofusion acted as lead integrator and further advanced Airfence to integrate radar and optics systems on board vehicles enabling all systems to work in unison, with Airfence being the core counter-UAS solution by means of RF detection and transmission.

    The DIUx project has been active for more than 12 months, growing and expanding since its late March 2017 launch.

    Airfence is now fully ruggedized, meeting IP67 ruggedization requirements. Furthermore, Airfence has outperformed all tests for range of detection and counterattack capabilities and has also greatly increased the number of drones within its library it can detect, track and defeat yielding zero false positives, Sensofusion said. The system has outperformed range testing at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia.

    In addition, Airfence exceeded expectations against a large variety of small UAVs — including fixed wings and rotorcrafts — while Marines operated the technology under extreme weather conditions in Arizona at Yuma Proving Grounds. YPG is the largest U.S. military installation in the world and has been a key site for testing military equipment since World War II.

    Through its work with the U.S. Marine Corps, Sensofusion has brought its system to a single sensor solution, which is beneficial for tactical use in a mobile convoy scenario.

    Airfence also can be used for fixed installations when protecting areas such as military bases, airports, prisons, oil refineries and pipelines, nuclear power plants, power plants, government buildings and border walls.

    Sensofusion has made major leaps in its ability to detect and defeat rogue drones by means of protocol demodulation and manipulation.

    “Our work in the past year with the Marines enables us to meet production readiness with our flagship counter-UAS solution, AIRFENCE, and are now prepping for production with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security,” said Sensofusion Vice President Kaveh Mahdavi. “We’re now at a point where DoD, DHS — really, any government organization — can order our standardized counter-UAS platform, Airfence, in large quantities. This is a significant advancement within our developing drone defense industry and will act as the benchmark for all future solutions.”

    Extension to Sensofusion-U.S. DoD contract signed. As Sensofusion ramps up production for AIRFENCE across government agencies in America, it continues to align with MCWL, signing a one-year extension to the agreement with the DoD to innovate and implement new capabilities within signal intelligence.

  • High-power microwaves and lasers defeat drones in U.S. Army exercise

    High-power microwaves and lasers defeat drones in U.S. Army exercise

    Forty-five unmanned aerial vehicles and drones fell out of the sky during a U.S. Army exercise after Raytheon’s advanced high-power microwave and laser dune buggy engaged and destroyed them.

    These common threats were knocked down during a Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment (MFIX), held in December at the Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

    The directed energy system emits an adjustable energy beam that renders drones unable to fly. (Photo: U.S. Army)

    The directed energy system emits an adjustable energy beam that, when aimed at airborne targets such as drones, renders them unable to fly.

    The MFIX event brought military and industry leaders together to demonstrate ways to bridge the Army’s capability gaps in long-range fires and maneuver short-range air defense.

    Raytheon’s high-power microwave system engaged multiple UAV swarms, downing 33 drones, two and three at a time.

    Raytheon’s high-energy laser, or HEL, system identified, tracked, engaged and killed 12 airborne, maneuvering Class I and II UAVs, and destroyed six stationary mortar projectiles.

    The vehicle-mounted laser is installed on an all-terrain Polaris militarized vehicle. (Photo: U.S. Army)

    The vehicle-mounted laser combined a solid state laser with an advanced variant of the company’’s Multi-Spectral Targeting System™ and installed them on a small, all-terrain Polaris militarized vehicle.

    The system delivers 300 seconds of invisible, precise and instantaneous energy and five hours of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from a single charge, Raytheon said.

    Coupled with a generator, the HEL weapon system provides military members with counter-UAV capabilities and a virtually unlimited magazine.

    “The speed and low cost per engagement of directed energy is revolutionary in protecting our troops against drones,” said Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president. “We have spent decades perfecting the high-power microwave system, which may soon give our military a significant advantage against this proliferating threat.”

    Raytheon and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory worked together under a $2 million contract to test and demonstrate high-power microwave, counter-UAV capabilities.

    “Our customer needed a solution, and they needed it fast,” said Ben Allison, director of Raytheon’s HEL product line. “So, we took what we’ve learned and combined it with combat-proven components to rapidly deliver a small, self-contained and easily deployed counter-UAV system.”

  • DOT plans 3-year, 5+ participants for drone pilot program

    U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao provided further details of the department’s new Drone Integration Pilot Program at a public event held Nov. 2 at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters in Washington, D.C.

    Chao was joined by hundreds of drone operators, industry leaders, members of the public, law enforcement and first responders, and local, state, tribal and federal officials.

    The pilot program is designed to safely test and validate advanced operations through various partnerships across the country with oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

    A Federal Register notice lays out the timeframe, requirements, and goals of the new program, which will pair local, state, and tribal entities with private sector players in the drone industry to develop and deploy new operational concepts that are not currently in widespread use.

    The first step is for government officials to complete a Notice of Intent, signifying their intention to complete a full program application. Applicants will have 20 days to complete a Notice of Intent, followed by the requirement that they complete an application through the FAA/UAS Portal within 57 days. Within 180 days, initial program applicants who receive approval could begin deploying drones under the limitations coordinated and agreed to with the FAA. The program will last for three years.

    After evaluating all the applications, DOT will select a minimum of five partnerships. Full details of the Federal Register Notice and Application process can be found here.

    Webinars Scheduled. The FAA is hosting three webinars providing an overview of the program, application process and specific criteria and deadlines that must be met. The webinars will be held on the following times.

    • Friday, November 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET
    • Friday, November 3 at 3:00 p.m. ET
    • Monday, November 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET

    Registration is required to attend.

    The pilot program will evaluate a variety of operational concepts, including night operations, flights over people, flights beyond the pilot’s line of sight, package delivery, detect-and-avoid technologies, counter-UAS security operations, reliability and security of data links between pilot and aircraft, as well as local management of UAS operations subject to FAA oversight.

    Industries that could see immediate opportunities from the program include commerce, photography, emergency management, precision agriculture, and infrastructure inspections and monitoring.

    The program will help tackle the most significant challenges in integrating drones into the national airspace while reducing risks to public safety and security. The program is designed to provide greater regulatory certainty and stability to local governments and communities, UAS owners and operators who are accepted into the program.

    In less than a decade, the potential economic benefit of integrated unmanned aerial systems into the nation’s airspace is estimated to equal up to $82 billion and create up to 100,000 jobs,, according to AUVSI’s The Economic Impact of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

    Chao told attendees the program application and deployment process will move quickly because a priority for DOT is encouraging innovation in the drone industry while maintaining safety for communities involved.

    “The drone pilot program will accelerate the safe integration of drones into our airspace by creating new partnerships between local governments, the FAA, and private drone operators,” Chao said. “These partnerships will allow local communities to experiment with new technologies like package delivery, emergency drone inspections, and more, on terms that work for them and in ways that support a unified and safe airspace.”

    “This program will put community and industry partnerships at the leading edge of aviation technology,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta. “What we learn through testing operational concepts in these communities will be invaluable and give us clarity on rules that ensure safety and continued innovation.”

    “More and more businesses and public safety providers are embracing UAS to expand and enhance their service offerings,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. “This growing demand illustrates a new renaissance in aviation and technology, which requires sustained collaboration and support by government at all levels.”

  • Report: Counter UAV market to generate $2.4 million this year

    AUDS System
    AUDS System

    A new report from business intelligence provider Visiongain offers market insight and analysis of the emerging counter UAV (C-UAV) market. In “Counter UAV (C-UAV) Technologies Market 2016-2026,” Visiongain assesses that the C-UAV market will generate revenues of $2,483 million in 2016.

    In May 2016, Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Electronic Control Systems had their AUDS C-UAV system selected by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for evaluation at U.S. airports as part of its Pathfinder Program.

    Visiongain’s report provides an objective analysis of how the AUDS selection will impact companies and the industry more broadly. It provides clear detailed insight into the global C-UAV market and reveals the key drivers and challenges affecting the market.

    The 205-page report includes 249 in-depth tables, charts and graphs, plus an exclusive interview with Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems.

    To see a report overview, email Sara Peerun at [email protected].