Counter-UAS & Counter-Drone Technology
Drone detection, tracking and defeat: counter-UAS technology, news and analysis for the military, police and critical infrastructure.
Counter-UAS in the Netherlands: soldiers fire at drones over Volkel
Drones appeared over Volkel air base and Eindhoven airport on Saturday evening; at Volkel, shots were fired from the ground. Who is behind it and which counter-UAS means were used remains unclear.
Counter-drone ammunition for assault rifles: Ukraine expands production
After testing pre-series batches from several manufacturers, Ukraine is relying on a 5.56×45 NATO cartridge for counter-drone defence. Similar ammunition is also being tested and marketed in Russia and the USA.
Counter-UAS: Austria's National Council unanimously backs national drone protection strategy
A Greens motion for a resolution won unanimous approval in the National Council. The counter-UAS debate covered responsibilities, slow procurement, Skyranger instead of ESSI and Europe's technological lag.
Counter-UAS by jet: Aero Vodochody shows L-39 Skyfox as drone hunter
After Embraer with the A-29 Super Tucano, Aero Vodochody is now equipping its jet trainer for counter-UAS. At the Dubai Air Show, the L-39 Skyfox is on display with rockets, machine-gun pods and sensor pods.
Counter-UAS: Dutch Ministry of Defence launches “Counter Strikedrone Challenge”
Not specific products but solutions that work in operations: with the “Counter Strikedrone Challenge”, the Dutch Ministry of Defence is bringing industry on board for Counter-UAS – and wants to neutralise hostile drones while they are still over enemy territory.
Counter-UAS by interceptor swarm: Atreyd tests its “flying minefield” in Ukraine
Up to 1,000 interceptor drones from a container, controlled by AI: French start-up Atreyd is having its DWS-1 Counter-UAS system tested by a country for the first time – Ukraine. The system is intended as a last line of defence against Shahed drones and glide bombs.
Counter-UAS: Embraer upgrades the A-29 Super Tucano into a “drone killer”
Laser-guided rockets, wing-mounted guns and new data links: Embraer is adding Counter-UAS to the A-29 Super Tucano's range of missions. The light COIN and close air support aircraft is set to become a low-cost drone interceptor.
Counter-drone defence with the F-16: Ukrainian squadron has shot down more than 1,000 Russian drones
A deputy squadron commander with the call sign “AB” tells the Mitchell Institute how Ukraine uses the F-16 for counter-drone defence, why dispersed basing works and what support is still missing.
Counter-drone defence in Belgium: Chief of Defence Vansina orders drones over bases to be shot down
After three consecutive days of sightings, including over Kleine-Brogel, Belgium is stepping up its counter-drone defence. According to Chief of Defence Frédéric Vansina, resources are still scarce; an accelerated protection programme is under way.
Interceptor drones: how drones against drones are becoming a new class of air defence
Expensive guided missiles against cheap attack drones do not add up. That is why defence companies and start-ups worldwide are developing interceptor drones – from the Ukrainian hackathons to the Sting from Wild Hornets.
Counter-UAS as part of security provision: Austria's National Council passes the RKE Act
With the RKE Act, which is intended to make critical infrastructure in Austria more resilient, counter-UAS is also coming into focus. Several members of the government explain why the existing drone strategy is being developed further and which facilities are to be protected.
Drone detection by microphone: Joanneum Research listens to the airspace passively
Microphone arrays and AI instead of radar: Joanneum Research relies on passive acoustics for drone detection. From December 2025, distributed, energy-autonomous sensor nodes in the UAS-Check Point project are to form the next step.
Counter-drone in Sweden: government provides more than 315 million euros for the armed forces
Sweden's government is bringing procurement forward by around eight years: more than 315 million euros are to expand the counter-drone capabilities of the Swedish Armed Forces. A further 135 million euros go into spare parts and equipment for the JAS 39 Gripen.