The partnership seeks to create “new possibilities” for enhancing naval drone defenses amid rising geopolitical tensions.

According to Rheinmetall, both companies bring “complementary skills” in developing and integrating laser weapon technologies.

The two firms previously worked together on a laser demonstration onboard a German Navy frigate, successfully firing over 100 test shots at representative targets.

With the new collaboration, Rheinmetall and MBDA hope to introduce a maritime product to the defense market within the next five to six years.

Low-Cost Solution

There have been increasing calls for more affordable solutions to neutralizing drone threats, with a Pentagon official acknowledging that the costs of firing counter-drone weapons and munitions are becoming “too high.”

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have mocked the US for using $2-million air defense missiles to intercept drones that cost only $2,000.

Even US Department of Defense undersecretary for acquisition William LaPlante admitted that current military efforts to eliminate enemy drones now exceed $100,000 per shot.

Laser weapons present a cost-effective alternative, with the UK saying its DragonFire can shoot down drones at $13 per shot.

Israel’s Rafael also claims its 100-kilowatt Iron Beam ground-based laser air defense system has “almost zero cost per interception.”

While promising, laser weapon development poses challenges, as it requires extensive research and design processes.

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Named the Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept, the system combines beyond-visual-line-of-sight communication with advanced command-and-control capabilities to effectively detect, track, and counter drone swarms.

It integrates cutting-edge components, such as radars, radio frequency defeat capabilities, and AI-driven detectors for enhanced threat monitoring.

The weapon can be mounted on vehicles or deployed in fixed positions to protect high-value assets.

According to Honeywell electronic warfare director Norm Balchunas, the system can detect and neutralize drones while traveling at speeds reaching 70 miles (112 kilometers) per hour.

That capability is significant, he noted, because detecting a low, slow drone that suddenly accelerates poses a considerable challenge.

‘Multi-Layered Defensive Capabilities’

Unlike other counter-UAS solutions, the Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept system features multi-layered defensive capabilities to address multiple threats simultaneously.

It can disable drones by launching a kinetic interceptor, utilizing a directed energy weapon, or employing a soft kill method to disrupt their radio frequency.

AI also plays a crucial role in the system, enabling rapid threat detection in crowded environments and accelerating human operators’ decision-making.

“[The operators] got to make a decision. What target path is that? What effector should I use? Is this authorized within my rules of engagement?” Balchunas said. “Using AI, I can implement my rules of engagement so they’re automated.”

Honeywell is set to demonstrate the ground-breaking system to the US Air Force in January 2025.

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For the event, the Texas-based startup deployed its Bullfrog robotic weapon system developed for autonomous scanning and neutralization of drone threats.

A live fire demonstration was held on each day of the  two-week conference, with the gun “consistently” defeating targets on single or multi-drone engagements “in rapid succession.”

The trials concluded with the technology exhibiting its “low cost, low weight, size, and power” application for accurate and effective anti-drone attacks within seconds.

ACS’ Steven Simoni commented that the tests validated the Bullfrog’s capability, which “has been a near-impossibility until now … to autonomously shoot drones out of the sky with a solution that doesn’t cost the DoD millions of dollars to procure or arm.”

“This means that there is now a solution to address the urgent threat of low-flying, cheap drones that have changed the battlefield,” Simoni explained.

‘Significant Milestone’

The company’s co-founder and CEO also expressed gratitude for having an opportunity to participate in a Joint Warfighting Concepts-related military event just two years after ACS’ launch.

The Indiana event was attended by more than 30 representatives from Pentagon stakeholders, Congress, and primary C-UAS program offices.

“We are grateful to the Defense Department for providing the opportunity to showcase our system,” Simoni stated.

“The Bullfrog system’s successful performance during the [Technology Readiness Experimentation 2024] event marks a significant milestone on the path toward deployment, supporting our mission to accelerate the defense industry’s transition to advanced, cost-effective technologies that protect US military and allies on the battlefield.”

The Bullfrog

ACS’ Bullfrog is offered in a gun turret configuration with features to address class 1 to 3 UAS platforms.

The 400-pound (181-kilogram) weapon functions in both automatic and semi-automatic modes with a less than two percent false negative rate in fully passive detection.

Additionally, its lightweight design enables users to mount the system onto NATO-standard military vehicles.

The Bullfrog combines computer vision, artificial intelligence, and the M240 machine gun to enable precision firing using 7.62-millimeter rounds.

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The assessment was made during a recent training exercise that aimed to test the country’s counter-drone capabilities and identify air defense issues that need to be addressed.

Duan Xiaolong, a member of an unnamed PLA regiment, told state broadcaster CCTV that his unit only achieved a 40-percent hit rate during the first round of artillery strikes against multiple drone targets.

He said UAVs naturally have the speed, size, and ability to change flight trajectories, making it difficult for gunners to neutralize them individually or in a swarm.

According to a military commentator, the artillery used in the training exercise may have been older models from the 1990s or 2000s.

These weapons apparently have outdated technology against drone swarms, compromising both their accuracy and operational safety.

Growing Significance

Global investments in counter-drone capabilities have soared amid multiple geopolitical conflicts.

UAVs have become a key feature in the Ukraine and Gaza wars, dramatically altering battlefield tactics and providing enhanced reconnaissance.

In anticipation of the pivotal role of drones in future conflicts, many countries including the US have ramped up their spending to address these threats.

Last week, the US Army received its first EAGLS laser-guided counter-drone system featuring the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II.

NATO countries in Europe have also bolstered their air defenses, with Poland unveiling the HAASTA drone-killing UAV and the UK testing a truck-mounted directed-energy weapon.

For its part, Beijing has urged its defense industry to ramp up production of smarter and more efficient anti-drone weapons, including jammers and lasers.

The post China’s Anti-Aircraft Weapons Register Low Success Rate Against Drone Swarm appeared first on The Defense Post.

The demonstration was held nearly three months after China showed off its own version of a weapon-carrying robot dog at the onset of its joint military exercise with Cambodia.

A Ghost Robotics Vision 60, the American Q-UGV features an AR-15-type rifle mounted on a small turret on top of its front end.

It also has a relatively large objective lens and electro-optical targeting system that aids in accurately finding targets.

Furthermore, the rifle-toting robot dog appeared to be carrying a laser aiming device on its side and a high-performance camera similar to a GoPro on its rear.

A Ghost Robotics’ Vision 60 quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle (Q-UGV) armed with an AR-15/M16-type carbine is among the counter-drone capabilities being demonstrated at the U.S. Army’s Fort Drum in New York as part of what has been dubbed Operation Hard Kill. pic.twitter.com/dRxKUqYZMV

— Katherine Champagne (@keccers) August 8, 2024

The armed version of the Vision 60 is reportedly an anti-drone system, with its sensors supposed to detect hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) then shoot them down using the rifle.

AI-Enabled

Ghost Robotics’ Vision 60 is a mid-sized, all-weather UGV enabled by artificial intelligence (AI).

It was developed to help the military reach areas otherwise inaccessible to ground vehicles and keep soldiers out of harm’s way.

Weighing only 112 pounds (51 kilograms), the robot dog can travel at speeds reaching 3 meters (10 feet) per second with maximum runtime of 3 hours.

During Operation Hard Kill, the rifle-armed Vision 60 demonstrated its ability to maneuver and aim its AI-enabled weapon autonomously.

Representatives from the army and its industry partners monitored the activity and reviewed the robot’s targeting data.

Chinese Version

A video taken during the China-Cambodia military exercise showed a four-legged robot’s ability to walk, hop, lie down, and move backward like a real canine.

It also demonstrated its ability to lead an infantry unit in penetrating a representative enemy building.

American lawmakers immediately sounded the alarm on the new Chinese innovation, requiring the Pentagon to assess its potential application in future conflicts.

PLA showcased two robot dogs — including one with a QBZ-95 assault rifle mounted on its back — during the 15-day China-Cambodia Golden Dragon 2024 joint military exercises that began on May 16. pic.twitter.com/b75K26BWzo

— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) May 27, 2024

The post After China, US Unveils Rifle-Toting Robot Dogs appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Arlington-based firm disclosed that the weapon “completed multiple rounds of testing,” including the successful firing of its dual-thrust, solid rocket motor.

This milestone, it said, demonstrates the missile’s technological maturity and readiness to help the US Army combat increasing drone threats.

It also significantly reduces the technical and scheduling risks associated with rapid development programs.

In June 2024, BlueHalo announced that it had been down-selected by the army as one of two vendors to move forward with its development of the NGCM.

‘Beyond Current Capabilities’

The NGCM program was launched amid the increasing national security threats posed by the proliferation of small drones.

BlueHalo said its Freedom Eagle “goes beyond current capabilities” to effectively defeat these threats.

It reportedly offers a low-cost effector with superior maneuverability, making it a suitable Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) solution.

The missile is also compatible with existing infrastructure and command-and-control systems.

“[Freedom Eagle] doesn’t just meet today’s challenges; it evolves with them,” BlueHalo Armed Forces Portfolio President Jimmy Jenkins said.

“We’re providing warfighters with increased range, reduced time-to-target, and rapid launch capabilities,” added BlueHalo Chief Growth Officer James Batt.

The post BlueHalo Hits Critical Milestone for US Army’s Next-Gen Anti-Drone Missile appeared first on The Defense Post.

Described by the service as its “most challenging counter-drone systems test to date,” the test aimed to evaluate the command-and-control capabilities of its available C-sUAS weapons.

These systems include radio frequency scanners and jammers, electro-optical/infrared cameras, kinetic interceptor drones, and guided rockets.

The task was to be able to quickly differentiate the swarming targets and neutralize the most dangerous threat first, the army’s Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Systems Office (JCO) explained.

The service used a wide array of threat profiles for the demonstration, including rotary-wing, fixed-wing, slow-moving, and even propeller-powered drones.

“You’ve got so many [UAS] coming at you… You don’t want to obviously engage the target multiple times,” JCO acquisition chief Col. Michael Parent said.

‘A Layered Approach’

The US Army acknowledges the significant threat posed by small drones to its global operations.

It said these systems are now being used by enemy forces to carry out targeted attacks and collect reconnaissance at low cost.

With the recent demonstration, the service argued that it was able to assess how each of its available C-sUAS sensed and identified different types of threats.

“The challenge of the profile really meant that no one characteristic, no one capability, whether kinetic or non-kinetic, in itself could really defeat this kind of a profile,” Parent said.

“You really do need a full system-of-systems approach, a layered approach, because we’re talking about a very large profile… coming out from different angles, different speeds, and different sizes.”

The JCO said all nine counter-drone systems showed greater speed and recognition of threats compared to previous demonstrations held from 2021 to 2023.

The post US Army Conducts ‘Most Challenging Counter-Drone Test to Date’ appeared first on The Defense Post.

This as the Marine Corps Systems Command issued a formal notice to potential vendors who can deliver rifle-mounted solutions for detecting, identifying, tracking, and defeating hostile drones.

These include radio frequency and global positioning system jammers, ammunition, and advanced rifle optics that lock onto an incoming drone.

According to the notice, the attachment should allow infantrymen to effectively defend themselves against group 1 and 2 unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Group 1 UAS refers to drones weighing less than 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms) such as the RQ-11 Raven, while Group 2 drones are those that weigh 21 to 55 pounds (9.5 to 25 kilograms) like Boeing’s ScanEagle.

“With the proliferation of UAS as a threat on the modern battlefield, Marines require the ability to maintain awareness … and conduct self-defense against threat UAS,” the notice wrote. “Every unit down to the individual Marine, regardless of geographic location on the battlefield, is vulnerable [to drone attacks].”

Squad and Platoon-Level Solutions

The US Marine Corps said it is looking for anti-UAS attachments that are suitable for squad and platoon-level organizations.

For squad level, solutions may include a non-kinetic, directional jammer and a passive detection system that can sense an incoming drone’s radio frequency.

External, body-worn components such as tablets, bracelets, earpieces, or glasses can also be utilized for receiving alerts, warnings, or notifications.

Meanwhile, platoon-level solutions may require non-kinetic, omni-directional jammers and bigger, more sophisticated sensors.

These components can be vehicle or tripod mounted.

The service has made it clear that potential solutions must be able to effectively operate in adverse weather and operational conditions, including snowy, rainy, dusty, and low light.

Vendors should also be able to provide training, integration, testing, production, and maintenance support if selected.

The post US Marine Corps Seeking Counter-Drone Attachment for M27 Rifle appeared first on The Defense Post.

The collaboration integrates Fortem’s advanced DroneHunter technology with MBDA’s Sky Warden modular solution, which uses artificial intelligence to help operators identify and classify threats.

Demonstrated at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, the concept comprises a ground-launched anti-air munition that can target enemy tactical drones, reconnaissance mini-drones, traditional air-breathing threats, and loitering munitions.

The concept enables the rapid incorporation of a warhead on a drone to defeat threats at a lower cost, MBDA said, adding that tests “have proven its effectiveness and lethality.”

“Our flagship Sky Warden modular [counter-drone] system is designed to evolve at the same rapid speed as the drone threat the world now faces, as demonstrated so effectively in recent trials,” MBDA CEO Éric Béranger said.

Featuring an independent warhead design, operators can deploy the new platform instantly on the battlefield.

“Fortem Technologies is honored to contribute to this cutting-edge solution, providing unmatched expertise and technology to enhance the Sky Warden system,” said Fortem Technologies CEO Jon Gruen.

“This relationship highlights the speed, agility and development capabilities that Fortem and MBDA combine to meet our customers’ rapidly changing needs while offering a solution at cost parity with some of the evolving threats we see.”

The post MBDA Showcases New Effector Concept for Sky Warden Counter-Drone System appeared first on The Defense Post.

The demonstration aligns with the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator program which seeks a ground vehicle-mounted capability to counter drones.

Held at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down range in England, the event saw the weapon activated at full power while integrated with a British Army Wolfhound armored tactical support vehicle.

The trial concluded with the HELWS successfully neutralizing targets at more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).

“This high-powered firing is a significant step towards ensuring the UK Armed Forces can exploit this potentially game changing capability at pace so they have the edge against both current and future threats,” a statement from the UK defense agency said.

“This technology offers a precise, powerful and cost effective means to defeat aerial threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces.”

More Tests to Follow

London wrote that data from the activity will be used to further explore the applications of future LDEW systems against other threats.

Additional tests will also be facilitated with the British Army later this year to learn more about the HELWS capabilities and its real-world drone warfare scenarios.

“In successfully firing the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle in the UK, DSTL has proven that the Raytheon high energy laser weapon system can track, engage and defeat targets whilst mounted on a vehicle,” Raytheon UK Managing Director James Gray stated.

“We now look forward to the British Army experimenting with the weapon over the coming months and proving that the technology is battlefield ready.”

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