DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the United States Air Force (the “USAF”) has awarded DroneShield a contract to deploy multiple units of DroneShield’s DroneSentryTM integrated detect-and-defeat counterdrone (C-UAS) system at the Grand Forks Air Force airbase (in North Dakota, USA), protected by the 319th Security Forces Squadron of the USAF (the “319th SFS”). As part of the contract, the USAF acquired an option to acquire additional systems following the initial deployment.
The DroneSentryTM systems to be deployed feature DroneShield’s passive RfOneTM radiofrequency direction finding sensors, with a world-leading range for detection of small class 1 drones, combined with the Company’s DroneCannonTM fixed site electronic countermeasures systems. DroneSentryTM utilises DroneShieldCompleteTM user interface, an intuitive and feature-rich alerting, tracking and reporting software. The system will receive regular firmware updates, including the Company’s upcoming cutting edge Artificial Intelligence-based firmware rollout planned for late 2020.
Oleg Vornik, DroneShield’s CEO, commented, “DroneShield was selected because our technology leverages Artificial Intelligence software and tracking/defeat automation that solves the 319th SFS problem statement (i.e. the requirements provided to the bidders on the contract) with little to no impact on manning.
This is DroneShield’s first U.S. Air Force deployment. We are immensely proud that the U.S. Air Force, one of the most demanding customers in the world, chose to deploy DroneShield’s flagship, fixed site detect-and-defeat system, incorporating our new RfOne MKIITM sensors. The USAF has a substantial requirement for the protection of its bases, in the US and forward deployments, and we look forward to continuing to support the service members and the expanded rollout of our solutions for their protection. In addition to our other recent work for the US military and government sector, a key market for us, the need for DroneShield’s industry-leading Counter-UAS solutions is expected to grow rapidly as global tensions continue to increase and the drone threat proliferates.”
For clarity, this announcement is not, and does not imply, a direct or an indirect endorsement of the Company’s products or services by any third party, including the U.S. Air Force.