AUSA NEWS: Protection Dept. to Commonly Host Demos of Business’s Counter-Drone Tech
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The Pentagon’s Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Plane Techniques Workplace plans to host trade demonstrations twice a yr to supply contractors a possibility to showcase their applied sciences that would assist defeat enemy drones, officers mentioned Oct. 11.
Small UAS operated by non-state throughout have already appeared on battlefields within the Center East. They can be utilized for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions, famous Military Col. Robert Hensley, the workplace’s chief of workers.
Whereas conventional air protection belongings could be tasked with defeating giant drones, the Protection Division wants different applied sciences to counter smaller platforms.
The division just lately started internet hosting a collection of trade demonstrations at Yuma Proving Floor, Arizona, because it searches for improvements that would assist the U.S. army fight the menace. Going ahead, Hensley’s workplace plans to proceed internet hosting them semi-annually.
“That actually is all about bringing on new options — materiel options, non-materiel options,” he mentioned on the Affiliation of america Military’s annual convention in Washington, D.C. “This know-how is evolving so quickly. We will’t be pigeonholed right into a inflexible course of. We’re growing methods to onboard [capabilities] to make sure that we’re getting the newest know-how to the warfighter.”
The primary demo within the collection came about in April and showcased “low-collateral results interceptors.” Three distributors participated.
“The demonstration supported future growth efforts to subject capabilities the place countering small UAS requires minimal collateral harm to the encompassing setting,” mentioned Military Col. Greg Soule, division chief within the acquisition and sources division on the joint counter-drone workplace.
The second occasion, which was held in September, had 5 trade individuals and concerned ground-based aerial denial and handheld/dismounted options, in keeping with his slides.
They embody ground-launched capabilities with no in-flight terminal steering that may defeat one or a number of small UAS, and capabilities which might be handheld or connected to service members weapons whereas conducting discounted operations, he defined.
A 3rd demo, slated for April 2022, will discover trade’s high-powered microwaves in addition to counter-UAS-as-a-service options, Soule mentioned.
“We intend to offer future recurring alternatives to trade on a semi-annual foundation, every with its personal designated focus space,” he mentioned.
The Pentagon needs counter-drone applied sciences that fall into six “necessities functionality bins,” to incorporate command-and-control and instruments that allow the detection, monitoring, identification, defeat and exploitation of enemy programs.
“We have heard from quite a few trade companions that they are prepared to indicate us what capabilities they’ve developed or improved utilizing their very own R&D {dollars},” Soule mentioned. “Here is their likelihood.”
The Protection Division will challenge requires white papers or different solicitations to search out out what trade has to supply earlier than choosing which corporations might be invited to take part within the demonstrations.
The counter-small UAS workplace is concerned about exploring applied sciences that fill functionality gaps or are “higher, sooner and cheaper” than present options, Soule mentioned.
“If their product fills a niche for us … then the subsequent step might be to herald the providers and be sure that they’re conscious of what we noticed on the market,” Soule mentioned. If the providers have an interest, the workplace will probably start an “on ramp” course of and pursue the aptitude, he added.
Matters: Military Information
