Counter-UAS on wheels: GDELS shows Pandur with laser, radar and Valhalla turret at Eurosatory

Several new solutions for countering unmanned aircraft systems (counter-UAS) were presented at Eurosatory by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS). On display was, among other things, a Piranha 8×8 in air defence configuration; however, most attention was drawn by a Pandur 6×6 comprehensively equipped for ground-based air defence (GBAD).

The central element of the demonstrator shown in the outdoor area is the unmanned Mangart 25 turret from Valhalla Turrets, mounted on the Pandur 6×6. The configuration, however, is much more than a conventional weapon station: numerous sensors and effectors for detecting, tracking and engaging drones are combined on a single platform.

Target acquisition is supported, among other things, by a passive acoustic drone detection system from Microflown. Four sensor units on the vehicle detect and locate incoming drones acoustically. This is an important advantage, especially against very small UAS, which are difficult to detect.

Also on board is the Helma-P high-energy laser weapon from French manufacturer Cilas. Mounted on a mast, it is to be able to engage drones and other aerial targets at distances of around 1,000 to 3,000 metres. Because laser weapons do not need conventional ammunition, they are regarded as a particularly cost-efficient “low cost to kill” solution.

Counter-UAS from detection to engagement

The Mangart 25 turret itself combines a 25-millimetre automatic cannon, 70-millimetre guided missiles from Thales and a Spexer radar from Hensoldt. This provides – comparable to the Skyranger air defence turret that GDELS-Steyr is integrating on the Pandur Evolution for the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) – a largely autonomous “stand-alone solution” from target acquisition to engagement.

A notable feature of the automatic cannon is the dual-belt feed, which allows different types of ammunition to be carried. The crew can thus switch flexibly between air and ground targets without having to change ammunition.

Also installed is the MRPA-3A Horizon Nulling GNSS Active Antenna from General Dynamics Mission Systems. It is designed to suppress interference from ground-based jammers and thus make navigation more resilient. On-board power is supplied, among other things, by an Emily 3000 fuel cell from SFC Energy.

The vehicle and the Mangart turret were already tested in a live-firing exercise together with the Slovenian Armed Forces a few weeks ago; this is also where the “kill marks” painted on the turret come from. In recent months, GDELS-Steyr has also presented further concepts for short-range and very short-range counter-drone defence.

It remains open whether and when the individual configurations will enter procurement programmes. However, the combination of Pandur and Mangart presented at Eurosatory is reported to be attracting great interest from the Slovenian Armed Forces.