Mehler Protection has presented a new close-range counter-drone protection system, SCILT, at Enforce Tac 2026, positioning it as a last protective layer for land vehicles facing increasingly complex small drone threats.
According to the company, SCILT is designed to address a growing operational challenge: uncrewed aerial systems approaching vehicles not only from above, but also from terrain features, ditches, flanks and rear sectors at very short distances. In these scenarios, reaction times are limited and traditional mobile air defense systems may struggle to detect and engage threats within the immediate close-in envelope.
A close-in protective layer
Mehler describes SCILT as a “dedicated last protective layer” intended to bridge the gap between larger mobile air defense systems and passive vehicle armor. The system is designed to counter small drones, including FPV systems, loitering munitions and so-called kamikaze drones, operating in close and very close-range engagements.
The architecture combines effector modules, sensors and operating logic mounted directly on the vehicle. Sensor kits can include electro-optical and other close-range surveillance systems to support detection and operator decision-making. The system enables sector-based activation, allowing specific directions to be activated or deactivated depending on vehicle formation and movement.
SCILT incorporates three staged alert levels: detection alert, approach alert and trigger alert. In its initial version, the system uses a deliberate man-in-the-loop architecture, with further automation planned as procedures and approval processes evolve.
Scalable effectors and vehicle integration
Effector modules use commercially available shotgun-caliber ammunition, ranging from rubber projectiles to hardened-core, tungsten-carbide fragment and armor-piercing variants. Mehler states that this range enables scalable effects and controlled hazard areas, depending on the operational scenario.
The system connects through a vehicle data bus and can integrate into existing vehicle architectures. Where such interfaces are unavailable, SCILT can operate as a self-contained package with its own surveillance and control chain. Remote control units can be installed at multiple positions inside the vehicle.
According to the company, development has been underway for approximately 18 months, during which 48 test campaigns were conducted. These included external and terminal ballistics trials, temperature behavior assessments, trigger reliability testing and fragment-density measurements to determine effective range parameters.
The first version of SCILT is expected to be available from summer 2026 as an effector package with sensor kits and control units that can be adapted to different vehicle configurations.
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Post Image Credit: Mehler Protection
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