US Defense drones: Industry partners are being asked by the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a kinetic defeat strategy for medium-sized hostile unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
An earlier this week solicitation stated that the anticipated counter-UAS solution should be able to integrate with multiple naval platforms to facilitate rapid deployment.
It should also coordinate with the sensors and combat systems now fitted on US Navy ships.
Furthermore, the solution has to have a more than 90% probability of kinetic defeat to protect military vessels inside a 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) radius.
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Kinetic defeat concentrates on physically demolishing the adversary asset, in contrast to other counter-drone strategies that use electronic warfare technologies to disrupt hostile unmanned aerial systems.
According to The Defense Post, the RQ-7B Shadow from Textron and the RQ-21 Blackjack from Boeing are examples of group three drones, and the DIU stipulated that the solution had to be able to handle this growing threat.
Minimal Expense
The DIU stated that to prevent the military from overspending on neutralizing comparatively inexpensive enemy drones, the kinetic solution should minimize “cost per defeat” as the US looks for less expensive ways to defeat drones.
According to earlier reports, the current cost per shot for eliminating hostile UAS is more than $100,000.
The US military was even made fun of by the Houthis for firing $2 million missiles in an attempt to down their $2,000 drones.
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The DIU also requests that completed proposals be tested within three months of the prototype award.
Vendors who demonstrate their ability to deliver five prototypes in a year and offer proof of their solutions’ functionality in representative environments may be given preference.
The organization has stated clearly that it will not consider any solutions that use directed energy and/or high-powered microwaves for this solicitation.
