Revolutionizing Air Defense with Low-Cost Counter-UAS Technology

Group 2 and 3 Unmanned Aircraft Systems like the Iranian Shahed drone pose an immediate and significant threat to critical infrastructure and military installations. The Shahed 136 drone measures 3.5 meters long, has a wingspan of 2.5 meters, and carries a warhead estimated to weigh between 30 and 50 kilograms. It can fly over 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) with an operational range of 970-1,500 kilometers (600-930 miles). The Shahed 136 drone is also known for its low cost of around $20,000 per unit, making effective mitigation a guaranteed financial and resource loss. Each interceptor missile fired by the Iron Dome system costs at least twice as much as the drone it would attempt to stop. In worst-case situations, a multi-million dollar missile is fired to eliminate a single UAS that costs less than a used car.ĀThe U.S. and our allies immediately need a counter-UAS capability that is significantly cheaper per intercept than its target (goal of $5,000 per unit); rapidly deployable with almost no notice; able to use onboard A.I. vision, ground-controlled, or human-piloted guidance to target UAS; operational in RF-denied and contested battlefield environments; capable of kinetic and explosive kills of much larger UAS target; field manufacturable and easy to produce; and leverages NDAA-compliant COTS parts, open-source software, and additive manufacturing to streamline research, development, production, and iterative improvement.