The U.S. Army reported a successful counter drone-swarm demonstration at the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Systems Office’s (JCO) fifth C-sUAS demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) from June 3-28, 2024. During the event, testers launched over 40 UAS targets converging on a defended area in each session. These tests enabled the JCO to evaluate the command-and-control capabilities of nine C-sUAS systems, observing how each system sensed and identified various types of UAS threats.
“It was a very successful demonstration in informing U.S. [forces] and our allies what capabilities exist out there for this very challenging profile,” said Col. Michael Parent, JCO Acquisition Division chief.
“You don’t want to obviously engage the target multiple times,” Parent added. “You’ve got so many [UAS] coming at you, you have to be able to differentiate and have the most promising threat first.”
The demonstration presented a wide array of threats that swarmed the C-sUAS systems in mass and waves, showcasing both kinetic and non-kinetic defeat solutions. Experiments tested capabilities that included guided rockets, kinetic interceptor drones, electro-optical/infrared cameras, radio frequency scanners, and radio frequency jammers.
Small UASs pose significant threats to military operations, as demonstrated in Ukraine and parts of Israel, by transporting ammunition for targeted attacks and gathering reconnaissance. To address this, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper designated the Army as the executive agent for C-sUAS defense in 2019.
The JCO plans to start prototyping specific C-sUAS proposals in 2025 based on combatant commanders’ needs and will hold the next demonstration in fiscal year 2025. The current systems showed improved speed and threat recognition compared to previous demonstrations. This event was the first demonstration in nearly 12 months.
As the JCO is still evaluating the test results, Parent refrained from commenting on the effectiveness of each vendor’s systems or specific performance data. Among the eight vendors, the JCO selected two proposals from Maryland-based ELTA North America: vehicle-mounted and platoon transport solutions.
According to Parent, the testing results will be compiled and sent to U.S. combatant commands and vendors. Additionally, the JCO will collaborate with joint partners to identify priority focus areas for UAS systems.
Post Image- Soldiers test the 30-millimeter, anti-drone turret part of the Mobile-Low, slow, small-unmanned aircraft Integrated Defeat System, Udari Range, Kuwait, on July 30, 2023. Mounted on two mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain… (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Austin May)
