US seeks kinetic defeat solution for mid-sized hostile drones

The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is directing industry partners to provide a kinetic defeat solution for medium-sized hostile unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

According to a solicitation Released earlier this week, the expected anti-UAS solution is expected to integrate with various naval platforms to enable rapid deployment.

It is also expected to be compatible with existing sensors and combat systems aboard U.S. Navy ships.

Additionally, the solution is expected to have a kinetic defeat probability of more than 90% to protect military ships within a 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) radius.

Unlike other counter-drone solutions that use electronic warfare technologies to disrupt hostile UAS, kinetic defeat focuses on the physical destruction of the enemy asset.

The DIU specifies that the solution must be able to respond to the growing threat from Group 3 drones, or those as large as Textron's RQ-7B Shadow and Boeing's RQ-21 Blackjack.

Minimum cost per defeat

As the United States seeks to find cheaper ways to neutralize dronesThe DIU said the kinetic solution should minimize the “cost per defeat” to ensure the military does not spend too much to neutralize relatively cheap enemy drones.

Previous reports indicate that current efforts to eliminate hostile UAS exceed $100,000 per shot.

Even the Houthis mocked the US military for launching missiles worth $2 million to stop their drones worth $2,000.

Additionally, the DIU wants mature proposals to be available for testing within three months of being awarded a prototype.

Preference may be given to interested suppliers who can deliver five prototypes within 12 months and provide evidence demonstrating the capability of their solutions in representative environments.

For this solicitation, the organization made it clear that it would not consider solutions using high-power microwaves and directed energy.