Army Seeks Gun-Based C-UAS Platform

The U.S. Army is seeking insights into kinetic capabilities that can shoot down unmanned aerial systems.

According to a sources sought notice posted by Army Aviation and Missile Command, the counter-UAS solution must use a rapid-fire cannon that can automatically target and shoot down drones.

The command’s ideal solution is a turreted system that can fit mobile platforms. It should also include a command and control system that can display air tracks and pass tracks to the turret, active radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors and a system that can raise the sensor and communications suite above 10 meters.

The Army plans to award a fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract for the effort. Responses are due March 22, DefenseScoop reported.

The notice followed a solicitation from the U.S. Marine Corps for C-UAS solutions combining jammers and other non-kinetic effects to protect installations in the Middle East. The Marine Corps said it needs systems to detect, track and identify incoming drones and take them down without causing significant collateral damage.

Meanwhile, in January, U.S. Central Command concluded exercise Sandtrap, where coders prototyped a technology to improve C-UAS capabilities.