U.S. testing capabilities to counter one-way attack drones

The Pentagon is testing new ways to counter UAVs due to the growing threat of one-way attack drones and the experience of the war in Ukraine. Defense News reported on this. New methods of countermeasures were tested at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

The Pentagon chose five companies to demonstrate capabilities that could defeat one-way attack drones, which are typically unmanned aircraft systems that are preprogrammed to fly without control of an operator once launched, which creates an additional challenge for countering them.

Launch of BpA MORFIUS

The demonstration featured one high-power microwave system, namely Lockheed Martin's Mobile Radio Frequency-Integrated UAS Suppressor (MORFIUS). In addition, there were also two kinetic capabilities: the Lightweight Multi-role Missile (LMM) by Thales' and the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) by BAE Systems. Lockheed's MORFIUS is a tube-launched, fixed-wing UAS that flies close to the enemy target and defeats it using a HPM pulse.

The LMM is a tripod fired, laser guided missile that defeats threats with an explosive warhead triggered by a proximity fuze.

LMM missile launch. Photo credits: Thales.

Thales' LMM missiles are used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine with the Stormer air defense system. The APKWS is an upgraded version of the Hydra rocket with a laser guidance kit and a proximity fuze that turns the rocket into a guided one.

These rockets are also used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine: the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems rocket on the HMMWV chassis.

The military took into account the experience of using kamikaze drones, so the capabilities were tested at roughly a 4-kilometer range.

The Pentagon anticipates having additional funding in fiscal 2024 to proceed with a prototyping effort for a capability to defeat one-way attack drones as well.