U.S. Africa Command is evaluating a new force protection concept that uses swarming drones to defend deployed troops against the growing threat posed by low-cost unmanned aircraft.
The initiative, known as CURTAIN CALL, is designed to create a coordinated swarm of unmanned systems that can form a defensive shield against incoming drone attacks.
Officials say the project was developed in response to several factors shaping the current battlefield environment, including the economic impact of mass-produced drones, the direct threats faced by deployed forces and the accelerating pace of drone development.
A recent field demonstration was conducted to assess the system’s current capabilities and support future development efforts.
The project is supported through Joint Staff J7’s Warfighter Laboratory Incentive Fund program and integrates commercially available drones and sensors to create a flexible and cost-effective defense system.
Rather than relying on custom-built equipment, the approach focuses on adapting commercially available technologies that can be deployed and modified quickly. The initial demonstration allowed engineers to identify technical challenges and refine the system before conducting a more complex operational test within the AFRICOM area of responsibility.
“In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, we need agile and affordable solutions to protect our forces on the continent,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jared Bindl, chief of Science, Tech & Innovation at AFRICOM. “Agile Counter-UAS solutions like CURTAIN CALL are crucial for developing layered defenses that can be deployed rapidly and sustainably. This demonstration is a key step in building a more resilient and cost-effective force protection posture.”
Informing future development
According to AFRICOM, the demonstration provided valuable insights into both the strengths and current limitations of the system.
The results are expected to inform leadership decisions about the technology’s viability as part of the command’s broader force protection strategy.
“The demonstration achieved its intended purpose: to expose system realities early, reduce risk and generate decision-quality insight to inform the next phase of execution,” Bindl said.
Officials said the lessons learned during the evaluation will guide further development of the CURTAIN CALL concept as AFRICOM continues exploring new ways to counter emerging drone threats facing deployed forces.
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Post Image Credit: AFRICOM
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