The joint office established to find solutions to countering air drone systems sought to challenge industry with large barrages of drone attacks during a demonstration in the Arizona desert last month. Vendors exhibited increased maturity and awareness of the threat environment faced by U.S. allies, according to Col. Michael Parent, chief of the Joint Counter-small unmanned aircraft systems Office’s acquisition and resources division.
The proliferation of drones on the battlefield is rising, with Ukraine losing 10,000 drones per month while defending itself from Russian invaders. The U.S. military is still working to address the threat posed by flooding the battlefield with a large number of drones, especially those able to fly in a coordinated fashion.
The joint office, also known as JCO, and the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, or RCCTO, selected eight industry teams and evaluated nine systems during a demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground over the month of June. The chosen companies included Clear Align, Trakka USA Defense, ELTA North America, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and others.
The demonstration featured up to 50 air drone targets at a time, coming from all directions and converging on a defended area. Drones included rotary and fixed-wing aircraft of various sizes, ranging from less than 20 pounds to less than 1,300 pounds. Test scenarios were not shared with industry teams before the demonstration, making it challenging.
The Pentagon created the joint office in late 2019 to bring counter-small drone capability into the force. The office has held several demonstrations, each focusing on different solutions to the drone threat. Industry approaches have matured over time, showing better understanding and improved capabilities.
The JCO is now analyzing data from the June demonstration to inform vendors on performance and progress. They may require more investment for certain solutions or could choose immediate acquisition for mature solutions. Another demonstration is planned for fiscal 2025, with details to be released in FY24.
