Counter-UAS with microwaves and hypervelocity projectiles: BAE Systems presents MDACS and HPM

BAE Systems is bringing two technologies into position against drone swarms and missile attacks. At the AUSA 2026 defence exhibition in Washington, the company presented the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) and a system based on high-power microwave (HPM) – two new counter-UAS solutions within a layered air defence.

The background is the growing threat of massed drone attacks: conventional air defence systems reach their limits here because of limited ammunition stocks and high costs per interception. BAE Systems therefore combines kinetic effect with directed energy.

Gun system for air and ground targets

The kinetic side is covered by the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS). Mobile and air-transportable, it is intended to be usable both in air defence and against ground targets.

MDACS engages air targets with the guided Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP), a high-velocity round against incoming threats. The system is also intended to be able to attack stationary and moving ground targets with the Scorpio-XR precision-guided munition. According to BAE Systems, its range is twice that of previous projectiles fired from 155-millimetre guns.

Directed energy against swarms

The second component is an HPM system intended to defeat drones with powerful microwave energy. Unlike conventional interceptor weapons, it requires neither projectiles nor guided missiles.

According to the manufacturer, more than 99 per cent of the components are commercially available. This is intended to make production, maintenance and scaling easier.

A key advantage is considered to be the theoretically high number of possible engagements: the system can emit further microwave pulses as long as sufficient energy is available – conventional ammunition stocks are not needed for this.

Layered counter-UAS with suitable effectors

The combination of MDACS and HPM is based on the approach of countering different threats with the most suitable effector in each case. Guided hypervelocity projectiles can be used against selected targets, while the strengths of microwave technology are expected to come into play above all in massed drone attacks.

Both systems are intended to protect military formations and critical facilities. BAE Systems aims to offer the US Army scalable solutions that become operational faster than previous development programmes.

At the presentation, the company did not comment on specific procurement contracts, performance data of the counter-UAS systems or timelines for introduction.