The opening day of the カウンターUASテクノロジーUSA conference focused on mobile deployable counter-UAS technologies and strategies, bringing together leaders and experts from across military, industry and government.

Below, we go through each of the key sessions and the topics they covered.

Latest updates from the Close Combat Lethality Task Force

Col. Ryan Wylie outlined the Task Force’s current priorities, which focus on delivering alert, concealed and kinetic defeat solutions for mobile operations and moving toward MOS-agnostic systems for dismounted squads. He emphasized coordination across Army, USMC and USSOCOM to ensure interoperability and rapid deployment.

Col. Wylie outlined the need for obscuration technologies that enable forces to disappear from all spectrums and stressed the challenge of getting systems into the hands of forces rapidly.

Integrating advanced C-UAS into air and missile defense

Lt. Col. Adam Samiof discussed PEO Missiles & Space programs aimed at embedding counter-UAS into layered air defense architectures. He highlighted “sense-decide-act” integration and combining multiple defeat mechanisms to counter rogue drones effectively.

Lt. Col. Samiof spoke on the need to cue soldiers when threats are in their area, highlighting artificial intelligence, machine learning and passive detection technologies as key enablers of this capability.

Developing USMC operational requirements

Lt. Col. Bobby Barclay provided insight into the Marine Corps’ functional concept for ground-based air defense and counter-UAS, focusing on littoral operations. He outlined current systems, future requirements and the need for agile integration frameworks.

Although Lt. Col Barclay discussed the need for affordable interceptors to protect troops, he stressed that price is not the primary consideration and that the most important consideration for systems is that they are effective.

USSOCOM enhancements

Lt. Col. Stephen Gerry detailed SOCOM’s efforts to protect dismounted SOF personnel at the tactical edge. Key initiatives include integrating C-UxS and electronic warfare systems to defeat Class 3 UAS and refining acquisition processes for rapid capability delivery.

British Army perspective

Squadron Leader Hugo Morris shared UK lessons from VANAHEIM and FLYTRAP exercises, highlighting interoperability challenges and future requirements for portable and mobile counter-UAS systems.

He noted that directional RF effectors seem to be the way forward at the squad level for the UK at the moment.

Innovating munitions for C-UAS roles

Maj. Kenneth Welch discussed kinetic defeat options, including the evolution of medium-caliber ammunition tailored for counter-UAS roles at the tactical edge.

Maj. Welch highlighted the effectiveness of proximity detonating airburst munitions in increasing probability-of-kill, even for operators lacking extensive training.

AFCENT outlook

Julie Balduf closed the day with a look at future challenges, including preparing for mass-drone attacks. She introduced SUADS, the USAF’s upcoming system-of-systems approach, and reviewed recent operational experiences in the Middle East.

With the カウンターUASテクノロジーUSA conference focus day now concluded, the main conference presentations will begin tomorrow, Dec 2nd, and the conference will finish on Dec 3rd.

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