The United States Navy has announced the award of a $400,000,000 Counter UAS contract to Invariant Corp & Anduril Federal for the integration and delivery of a Counter-UAS Engagement System (CES) along with associated hardware, software, and services.
Announced by U.S. DoD on October 16, both companies have been awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts valued at a maximum of $200 million. This contract was listed via the PIEE Solicitation Module with Anduril & Invariant beating two other offerors to secure the award. The news follows the $250 million dollar Counter-UAS contract awarded to Anduril last week.
Work in Hunstvillle, Alabama and Mesa, California in delivery of the contract is expected to finish by October 2031 with Marine Corps Systems Command serving as the contracting activity. An initial $15,459,308 has been provided from the United States Marine Corps’ FY24 development, test and evaluation budget with additional funding provided in line with contracting actions.
The contract award follows a presolicitation notice issued in June 2023 outlining the Marine Corps’ requirements for new and improved Counter-UAS capabilities led by Program Manager, Ground Based Air Defense (PM GBAD) under the Futures Weapons Systems Increment 1 Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Program. MADIS is a short-range, surface-to-air system designed to enable the deterrence and mitigation of unmanned aerial systems and fixed wing/ rotary wing assets.
FWS Inc 1 MADIS consists of two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, one an AN/MSY-2 (v)1, Mk1, and one AN/ MSY-2(v)2, Mk2, mounted with a combination of new and existing systems. Operating together, the systems provide the Marine Corps with the ability to detect and defeat drones via both non-kinetic and kinetic means without sacrificing current maneuver force pace.
Having successfully completed live fire testing of MADIS in December 2023, the system has already demonstrated its significant potential operational value. As stated by Colonel Andrew Konicki in his role as PM GBAD following the test:
“The importance of countering UAS threats cannot be overstated… MADIS is the key. We’re excited to get this out to Marines.”
Colonel Konicki is slated to provide further updates on MADIS and broader Marine Corps C-UAS initiatives at the Conférence Counter UAS Technology USA taking place in D.C. in early December.
Once integrated, the CES developed by Invariant & Anduril will further enhance MADIS’ operational capacity by serving as a highly autonomous effector capable of negating Group 1-3 UAS threats at significant range from the launch site. The eventual deployment of MADIS will mark a significant milestone in the Marine Corps’ continued efforts to ensure warfighters are equipped with the tools required to effectively counter the growing drone threat.
Post Image- U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Company-16, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group observe the Marine Air Defense Integrated System at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, December 13, 2023. (Post Image Credit: Virginia Guffey)
