Handheld UAS Laser-Guided Kinetic Kill (HULKK)

Existing Counter UAS (CUAS) systems have largely been effective protecting installations against UAS threats, but the mechanics of using a $100k missile to defeat a $10k drone aren’t feasible for protecting squads of operators on the ground.    Current “man-portable” CUAS systems rely primarily on electronic warfare (EW) techniques.   However, tactics and technology are evolving to evade these countermeasures, and they will be ineffective against the emerging threats of autonomous UAS using visual navigation technologies.  Furthermore, these portable EW CUAS systems are unwieldy and serve only the CUAS mission; reducing the amount of ammunition operators can carry.  Areté proposes a truly portable and multifunctional CUAS system called the Handheld UAS Laser-guided Kinetic Kill (HULKK) consisting of a handheld see-spot/designator device used in tandem with an ultra-compact precision guided munition (PGM) called Pike.  Pike is a laser-guided munition designed to be fired from a grenade launcher.  Pike measures 2 inches by 17 inches and weighs 2 pounds; making it easy for an Operator to carry several in a backpack.  The enabling technologies for the HULKK handheld are Areté’s AIRTRAC laser designator paired with a pointing correction device called the active beam expander (ABEX).   Using HULKK, the Operator would acquire a threat UAS in the field of view of the imager and manually keep the target in the image.  The designator would then be fired and the ABEX would provide the fine pointing and hand jitter corrections required to keep the designator laser on target.   Pike would be fired once the designator was on target and track the designator laser spot to take out the threat UAS with high probability of kill.  When not being used for the CUAS mission, HULKK can be used for other engagements to accurately target vehicles (moving or stationary) or enemy combatants at up to 1500m range, be used for ISR missions, or to mark targets for close air support.