The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a follow-on production contract worth over $161 million to deliver JCREW/DRAKE 2.0 systems. These systems, designed to counter both improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), will be supplied in both dismounted and mounted configurations to support military personnel across a range of operational environments.

JCREW/DRAKE 2.0 systems are designed with the intent to provide 360-degree protection for troops at sea, on land or in transit. Through the use of intelligent jamming technology, these systems selectively neutralise hostile threats without disrupting friendly communications.

The upgraded systems feature enhancements in signal processing, broader frequency range, increased bandwidth and a more capable user interface, allowing for faster and more accurate responses to emerging threats.

Gordie Russell, Vice President of Communications Solutions at Northrop Grumman, noted the importance of such systems in modern warfare:

“JCREW/DRAKE continues to prove itself as a critical component in protecting our warfighters while maintaining the strategic advantage needed to succeed across the modern battlefield,” he said. “These systems are designed with an open and integrated architecture to support rapid upgrades and mission agility from ship-to-shore, capabilities that are critical for quick decision making.”

The DRAKE system, which is the element that provides the UAS protection, was added to the Army’s recommended counter-UAS list in May 2023 and became a Navy Program of Record under the Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants in April 2024.

The system can operate independently or can integrate with other command and control systems, offering a layered defence to deal with a range of UAS threats. This approach is increasingly seen as critical, with NATO recently highlighting the limitations of a single solution for dealing with UAS, which have the potential to pose such a diverse range of threats.

There is no ‘silver bullet’ for dealing with the challenges posed by UAS and holistic approaches that feature a range of effectors are critical for ensuring protection.

Post Image – Master-at-Arms 1st Class Everest Austerman operates a DRAKE anti-drone system during a simulated straits transit aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter. (Post Image Credit: U.S. Navy)