The U.S. Army plans to conduct competitions „at least” every two years to field cutting-edge defenses against smaller drones for Army units, acknowledging the need for defenses that can evolve as rapidly as drone warfare itself.
Outpacing the Threat
„We need to ensure that we continuously outpace the threat,” said Col. Guy Yelverton, the project lead for the Army’s counter-drone product office, at the annual AUSA conference. „So we will have these competitions at least at an every two-year cycle, to make sure that we know and understand the capabilities out there from our industry partners, and that we continue to provide our warfighters the best capability so that we outpace that threat that’s evolving.”
Five Lines of Effort
Yelverton stated that the Army has five lines of effort to field defenses against drones, with competitions aimed at furthering two key ones: providing every soldier with portable defense kits and equipping units with common equipment such as Humvee-mounted sensing arrays.
Focusing on Smaller Drones
These efforts primarily target smaller drones, as larger Group 4 and 5 unmanned systems typically require traditional air defense systems like Patriot batteries or fighter jets, according to officials.
Current and Future Competitions
The Army is currently concluding competitions focused on a new fire control system and is evaluating counter-drone equipment for soldiers. This follows an award last year to AV subsidiary BlueHalo for a next-generation drone-killing missile. Col. Yelverton previewed competitions for fiscal 2026, which will solicit industry for unit common equipment, sensors, and electronic warfare solutions.
Wide Net for Capabilities
„We have about 12 vendors out there showing us their kit,” Yelverton said of the ongoing competition for soldier common equipment. „And if they’re all good, we’ll select all 12, because we need a lot of capability in the counter UAS [unmanned aerial systems] environment.”
Group 3 Drone Challenge
Maj. Gen. David Stewart, the Army’s director of long-range fires and integrated air and missile defense, highlighted the challenge posed by Group 3 drones due to their speed, maneuverability, and size. He also noted that swarms of Groups 1 and 2 drones can present a threat equivalent to a Group 3 attack.
High Power Microwaves for Swarms
According to Col. Marc Pelini, military deputy for the Army’s fires future capability directorate, high power microwave weapons are likely the best tool to address the swarm problem. He emphasized the need for microwave systems capable of hitting targets „at least a kilometer or two” away. The Army is also testing platforms like the Coyote interceptor to counter drone swarms.
Layers of Defense Required
Officials stressed the importance of layered defenses to defeat modern drone threats.
No Silver Bullet
„I don’t think there’s a silver bullet that can address the full range of the threats,” Pelini said. „So you need kind of a Swiss Army Knife of effectors to completely protect yourself from an engagement perspective.”
