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Northrop Grumman Presents: Defeating Drone Threats

Sunday, July 26th, 2026

Maximizing Battlefield Flexibility with Innovative Guns and AmmunitionOn today’s battlefield, the hum of a drone overhead has become all too familiar. Affordable and easy to fly, these unmanned systems are one of the most commonly used tactics by adversaries of the U.S. and allies to gather intelligence, evade traditional defenses and quickly launch precise attacks.

With drone threats advancing faster than ever, Northrop Grumman’s flexible, cutting-edge technology marries speed with innovation to defeat drones like never before. Through close collaboration with our warfighters and partners, we drive continuous innovation — anticipating emerging challenges and providing the precise capabilities needed, exactly when and where they matter most. Building upon the reliability and precision of the Bushmaster family of Chain Guns that our customers know us for, our teams are building next-generation weapon systems and ammunition to elevate battlefield adaptability.

“We built this technology because the need is real — and it’s ready now to help protect those on the front lines,” said Rylan Harris, director of business development for Northrop Grumman armament systems. His team works on the M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster® Chain Gun, which was engineered to address the growing counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) threat. “In the end, defeating drones comes down to reliable capability and the Bushmaster Dual Feed with our proximity ammunition will win the fight.”

Northrop Grumman’s M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster Chain Gun integrated with SAAB’s Trackfire weapon station on the CB90 Combat Boat.

Revolutionizing Flexibility on the Front Lines

Currently, warfighters need one type of ammunition to defeat ground threats and another to defeat drones. With the Dual Feed cannon, operators can switch between these two ammunition types with the push of a button, with no time lost reloading or changing weapons. When seconds matter for survival, this mission flexibility gives an instant battlefield advantage.

“Seeing the emerging needs of the warfighter as C-UAS threats evolve, our team moved with urgency,” Rylan said. “We saw where the battlefield was going and built a solution to meet it.”

The versatility of the Dual Feed cannon enables commanders to respond swiftly to both unmanned aircraft systems threats and ground combat situations, adapting to rapidly changing mission demands. Whether engaging drones swarming overhead or enemy vehicles advancing on the ground, operators remain ready with superior capability in any operational setting.

Our advanced ammunition, including proximity and air-bursting rounds, are ideal for defeating small unmanned aerial systems.

Accelerating Advanced Ammunition

Northrop Grumman’s commitment to innovation goes beyond the cannon itself. For more than 30 years, the company has led advancements in medium-caliber ammunition and now delivers cutting-edge solutions that provide warfighters with a decisive edge in counter-UAS missions. The Bushmaster Dual Feed cannon utilizes two types of our advanced ammunition, including XM1198 high-explosive rounds designed to defeat armored targets and the XM1211 proximity-fuzed rounds for C-UAS engagements.

Designed and produced in partnership with the U.S. Army, the XM1211 is a 30x113mm round integrated with a proximity sensor that detonates when it gets close enough to detect a target, sending fragmentation to defeat it. This makes it ideal for C-UAS operations, as drone targets are typically small, fast and hard to hit precisely.

Our advanced ammunition is demonstrating real-world effectiveness against drones and we’re continuing to ramp production on these critically needed rounds to meet escalating global C-UAS threats,” Rylan said.

To meet growing global demand for cannons and ammunition, Northrop Grumman is investing in equipment, facilities and tools to accelerate capacity expansion and reduce lead-times. We are engineering technology that responds swiftly to the rapidly changing battlefield. Not just to keep pace with the future of warfare, but to dominate it.

Learn more about how we’re innovating armaments.

By Allison Newman

Posted in C-UAS, Guest Post | No Comments »

Fort Indiantown Gap Expands UAS, Counter-UAS Training

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — As the battlefield continually shifts toward unmanned aircraft systems, Fort Indiantown Gap is expanding its UAS and counter-UAS training opportunities.

Several ranges at the installation have been altered in recent months to allow for UAS and counter-UAS training so service members are prepared when they are deployed to hostile environments, said Kurt Spieles, the Gap’s range program coordinator.

“Small, unmanned aircraft systems have become a defining and complex component of the modern battlefield,” Spieles said. “Soldiers and units training at Fort Indiantown Gap need realistic, hands-on experience operating UAS for their own missions and, just as critically, detecting, tracking and defeating hostile drones before they can inflict harm upon them.

“Counter-UAS proficiency is no longer a niche skill set, but a core survivability requirement for any unit with the potential to deploy,” Spieles added.

Range 35, which is located in the training corridor between Blue and Second mountains, now includes a quadcopter and fixed-wing live-fire concept that allows users to engage drones with M249 or M240B machine guns.

The concept includes the capability to engage fixed-wing drones referred to as “wings,” fixed-wing gliders deployed by payload-capable quadcopters, and “attritable” first-person-view, or FPV, quadcopter drones.

Range 20, which is located along Range Road, has been modified to incorporate a counter-UAS team into a fire and maneuver squad. A team can bound forward on the range and engage ground targets with 5.56mm rounds and sporting clays with shotguns.

A large trench was also added that allows users to take up a defensive posture and engage clays with shotguns or ground targets with rifles. Clay throwers can be placed in various locations on the range and are thrown toward users to replicate high-speed one-way attack drones.

Together with the UAS Training and Innovation Facility, the range program is developing an inert FPV gunnery range on Range 6A, which is directly across Range Road from the UASTIF.

This range will allow pilots to fly FPV one-way attack drones directly into targets using a soft impact target backstop, constructed of large wooden frames with netting similar to that found in a batting cage. This allows multiple impacts with little to no damage to the drones.

Additionally, the range program facilitated the transport and assembly of an FPV drone maneuver training facility on the UASTIF grounds. Pilots can fly around and through shipping containers that have been modified and arranged to resemble a small village.

Fort Indiantown Gap continuously updates its ranges and training areas to mirror real-world threat evolution rather than static, outdated concepts, Spieles said.

“This includes integrating small UAS operations and counter-UAS response into range and maneuver training and developing in-house sUAS capability, including 3D-printed airframes to keep pace with rapidly changing commercial and military drone technology at a fraction of traditional timelines and costs,” Spieles said. “This adaptive approach ensures soldiers train against realistic, current threat profiles rather than legacy assumptions.”

In addition to the changes at these ranges, numerous upgrades are currently underway at the UASTIF, which was selected recently to host two significant UAS training programs. Upgrades at the UASTIF include two classrooms, a simulator room, a locker room and office space.

Col. Kevin Potts, Fort Indiantown Gap’s garrison commander, said that as the threat environment on the modern battlefield continues to evolve, the integration of UAS and counter-UAS training is crucial.

“At Fort Indiantown Gap, our goal is to ensure that our service members have access to modern, realistic training through innovation and outside-the-box thinking,” Potts said. “Through this we are providing ranges for UAS and counter-UAS training in order to equip our warfighters with the critical skills they need to win on a multi-domain battlefield.”

By Brad Rhen

Posted in Army, C-UAS, Drone, Guest Post, Training, UAS | No Comments »

Allen Control Systems Selected for US Marine Corps Ground Based Air Defense Program

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026

Bullfrog Autonomous Weapon Station to Be Integrated Into Marine Corps Formations for Counter-Drone MissionsAUSTIN, Texas—Allen Control Systems (ACS) today announced that the U.S. Marine Corps has selected its Bullfrog™ autonomous weapon system under the service’s Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) program to counter the growing threat of low-cost weaponized drones. The GBAD program equips Marines with fully integrated air defense solutions that detect, track, and defeat airborne threats, including drones, missiles, and aircraft.

The Marine Corps will integrate Bullfrog into the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (L-MADIS), the service’s most expeditionary counter-drone platform, through a prototype Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), increasing lethality and restoring maneuver for Marines on contested battlefields.

“The Marine Corps requires the most sophisticated and accurate possible capabilities to carry out its critical missions,” said Mike Wior, co-founder and CEO, ACS. “We are honored to support Marines with fast, scalable, and cost-effective counter-drone solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing platforms.”

Already deployed with the U.S. Army and Navy and validated through Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and allied military customers, Bullfrog combines AI, computer vision, and precision robotics to enable any legacy or modern firearm to detect, track, and defeat incoming threats at a fraction of the cost of even the least expensive kinetic interceptors.

The proliferation of drone warfare from Ukraine to the Middle East has exposed the enormous cost asymmetry of modern conflict, where militaries have relied on million-dollar missiles to neutralize low-cost threats. ACS directly addresses that gap, delivering autonomous precision at scale.

Posted in C-UAS, Contracts, Press Release, Robotics, USMC | No Comments »

USAF Seeks Common Ground-Based Launcher

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026

The The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management (C3BM) Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio is has released a Request for Information to industry to identify viable solutions for a Ground-Based Launcher ground-to-air missiles. At this point there’s no formal requirement. Rather, the information provided by industry helps the Air Force paint a picture for itself of what is in the realm of the possible.

They want to be able to engage Group 1 to Group 5 Unmanned Aerial Systems as well as cruise missiles. This new capability will augment technologies like the the Tactical High Power Operational Responder system seen above which uses directed energy to defeat drone swarms.

They’ve listed Eleven Critical Baseline Attributes:
1. Munition Types
2. Integrated Sensor Capability
3. Laser Illuminator
4. Firing Rate (Total of All Magazines)
5. Magazine Depth
6. C2 System Integration – for dissemination of sensor data and weapon cueing
7. Bounding Price Point (Per System Cost)
8. Transportability
9. Manpower
10. Built-In Test (BIT)
11. Weapon System

In addition to the baseline attributes, the Air Force is asking industry how their proposed concepts balance platform integrated sensing capabilities and the operational requirement for the system to be rapidly deployable.

This comes on the heels of an announcement in late June by Air Force leadership that they were now planning to create a new counter-drone careerfield. Until this can be accomplished the June Corona determined that Point Defense Flights will be established at select AF installations.

While grounded in a real need for expertise in this emerging Warfighting skill, Air Defense of airfields had been left to the Army since 1948 due to the Key West Accords which delineated roles and missions to the military branches under the newly created Department of Defense.

However, during the GWOT, the Army allowed its Air Defense branch to atrophy and is just now reacting to the threat of FPV drones. As we saw during Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb in Russia and the Israeli Operation Rising Lion in Iran, air bases as particularly susceptible to drone attacks, even in areas considered safe zones.

US bases and critical infrastructure have been regularly infiltrated by drones in the recent past. Fortunately, none of the CONUS incursions have been kinetic, but that’s not true in the Middle East.

With the Army’s assets stretched thin, this is hopefully the beginning of the Air Force assuming full responsibility for air defense of their activities.

Posted in Air Force, C-UAS, weapons | No Comments »

Tesseract Ventures Selected by Defense Innovation Unit for Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) Prototype Project

Saturday, July 18th, 2026

TAMPA, Fla., July 14, 2026 — Tesseract Ventures announced today its selection by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to advance in the Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) prototype project. This highly competitive initiative aims to accelerate next-generation autonomous capabilities for rapidly deploying, sustaining, and managing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in contested and austere environments.

The CADDS project addresses a critical Department of War challenge: transitioning from a one-operator-per-aircraft model to scalable autonomous systems that deploy and sustain large drone fleets with minimal human intervention. The project prioritizes modular, open-architecture solutions that support distributed military operations and allow rapid technology integration.

Tesseract Ventures will demonstrate its modular autonomous platform, which simplifies the deployment, launch, recovery, and management of multiple drones from containerized systems. Leveraging open systems architecture, advanced autonomy software, resilient command and control, and scalable mission management, Tesseract’s solution increases operational flexibility while reducing operator cognitive workload.

“This selection is an important milestone for Tesseract Ventures and validates our vision of delivering scalable autonomous systems and drones that meet the evolving needs of the U.S. military,” said John Boucard, CEO and founder of Tesseract Ventures. “We are honored to support DIU’s mission of rapidly fielding commercial technology to the warfighter.”

The CADDS project requires solutions capable of transporting, storing, launching, recovering, refitting, and managing diverse autonomous aircraft across land and maritime environments with minimal personnel. The solicitation prioritizes the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to maximize interoperability, future upgrades, and rapid technology insertion.

Unlike traditional drone operations requiring heavy operator involvement, Tesseract’s approach uses intelligent automation to increase the operator-to-aircraft ratio, enabling persistent autonomous operations while reducing risks to personnel.

As part of this prototype effort, Tesseract Ventures will participate in demonstrations to validate operational performance. Under the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process, successful prototypes may become eligible for follow-on production opportunities without further competition.

About Tesseract Ventures

Tesseract is an American invention company building advanced hardware, software, and AI-driven systems for construction, defense, infrastructure, and agriculture. The company develops integrated platforms combining real-time sensing, digital twins, robotics, and automation to provide organizations a complete operational picture. Tesseract works with field teams, military partners, and enterprise clients to create practical, reliable technologies that improve safety, clarity, and productivity.

For more information, visit www.tesseractventures.io

Posted in C-UAS, Contracts, Press Release | No Comments »

Senior Leaders Chart Course for Future Force

Friday, July 17th, 2026

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —

More than 60 Air Force senior leaders gathered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, June 10-12, for the semiannual Corona summit, a strategic planning forum focused on policy development, force readiness and future force initiatives.

Formalized by Gen. Curtis LeMay in 1961, Coronas serve as a venue for the Air Force’s top echelon to foster collaboration and refine strategic decisions on an array of topics as diverse as training, deterrence and air warfare doctrine. This recent iteration provided a decision-making forum designed to build upon recent policy modifications and address key areas essential for maintaining a ready and capable future force.

“I have traveled to our installations worldwide, meeting face-to-face with the Airmen who execute our mission every day,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach. “They share their real, day-to-day challenges with me, and Corona is where we turn that feedback into strategic action – making decisions to dismantle barriers, modernize our capabilities, and build a better Air Force from the bottom up.”

The three-day summit provided a decision forum to build on recent policy changes and discuss key areas to ensure a ready and capable force for the future.

Joining the traditional cadre of Major Command commanders and Headquarters Air Force senior leaders were their respective Command Chief Master Sergeants, alongside a diverse group of general officers representing various operational and functional directorates.

The group agreed on a host of policies and changes, including those related to basic military training, the use of AI and protecting bases from drones and other threats.

BMT Next (Modernizing Basic Military Training)

To better prepare incoming personnel for the complexities of future conflicts, a comprehensive curriculum update will be implemented for BMT by 2027. Under this revitalized model, training will more closely align Airmen with the broader Air Force mission. The curriculum will heavily emphasize “Airmindedness,” military professionalism and the Air Force Core Values.

Pairing those three skills with the specialty training that follows, Airmen will arrive at their first duty stations equipped with the foundational skillsets essential for modern warriors.

Not only will what they learn change, the physical training environment will undergo a significant transformation, too. There are plans to construct a dedicated Air Force Training Range, which will serve as the centerpiece of the BMT compound. This facility is designed to orient the trainees’ mindset around the Air Force’s primary power projection platform: the air base.

Point Defense of Air Bases

Recognizing the evolving threat environment, the decision was made to establish Point Defense Flights at select Air Force installations. Initially, these specialized units will be composed of personnel drawn from multiple career fields.

Concurrently, a dedicated new Air Force Specialty Code is being developed to formalize and sustain this base defense capability.

Artificial Intelligence

To harness the strategic advantages of emerging technologies, Wilsbach announced forthcoming Headquarters Air Force-level guidance regarding AI integration. This initiative aims to institutionalize proven AI best practices currently utilized across the enterprise.

A primary objective includes developing programs that leverage AI to automate repetitive administrative tasks, thereby freeing up Airmen for mission-critical duties.

Emphasizing a forward-looking approach, the summit also highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force’s task force dedicated to AI innovation.

The Future of Guardian Angel & Tactical Air Control Party Weapon Systems

The Air Force will not combine its Guardian Angel (GA) and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) weapon systems into a single unit. Each will retain its distinct identity and core, specialized competencies.

GA remains focused on personnel recovery, while TACP continues its role in precision strike, distributed command and control and integrating airpower with ground combat. The two may train together periodically to be interoperable in conflict, with MAJCOMs setting the training standards.

Building on TACP’s existing expertise in airpower integration, it was designated as the lead weapon system for One-Way Attack missions for employment by the Joint Forces Air Component Commander.

Leaders also moved to bring greater discipline to how the Air Force uses the term AFSPECWAR (Air Force Special Warfare) for the GA and TACP communities. Over recent years, the term has increasingly been used in an operational context, and the summit reaffirmed that AFSPECWAR is neither a mission nor a weapon system. It remains a term of enduring value for recruiting, accessions, initial skills training and the shared warrior ethos that unites communities of extraordinary Airmen.

To ensure clear command relationships, distinct capabilities, accurate authorities, preserved community identity and specificity in combat employment, the Air Force will use precise terms for specific weapon systems. This decision ensures operational clarity and honors the valor of the Airmen in the GA and TACP weapon systems.

Audit

In compliance with congressional directives, the enterprise-wide comprehensive financial audit continues. To ensure effective execution and accountability, Wilsbach directed all MAJCOM commanders to provide bi-monthly progress updates, emphasizing that audit readiness must remain at the forefront of their daily operational workflows.

In addition to the key decisions listed, other priorities were discussed at the forum to include readiness, both aircraft and personnel, along with streamlining enterprise-wide logistics-informed command and control (C2). Leaders focused on taking care of Airmen with talent management discussions, mission focused assignments and developmental opportunities.

Other operational discussions included a renewed focus on Camouflage, Concealment and Decoys, as well as the speed of information and the ability to make tactical adjustments in dynamic threat environments with a Digital Fires Report.

As the Air Force’s senior leaders gathered in Dayton to tackle the most complex challenges facing the force, the above decisions impact not only the 665,000 Airmen, but also allies, partners, industry and supportive local communities. Some of the initiatives are internal to the Air Force, while others are further reaching.

“This summit was a resounding success because we didn’t just talk about the future – we made concrete decisions to shape it,” Wilsbach said. “Whether we are modernizing our training, fortifying our defenses to guarantee readiness, or leveraging AI to return valuable time to our Airmen and their families, we are building a force postured to win.”

By TSgt William A. O’Brien

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in AFSW, AI / ML, Air Force, C-UAS, Guest Post | No Comments »

GoTAK Offers RIDAR ATAK Plugin for Free

Thursday, July 16th, 2026

We just turned every Android EUD into a drone detector for free. No cost, no licensing, no credit card required. RIDAR ATAK Plugin by GoTAK is our solution for airspace awareness on the TAK ecosystem and beyond. It is the same plugin that powers our RIDAR-FM drone detector that integrates with the MAAK Tactical ecosystem for public safety and law enforcement.

The RIDAR plugin is free to download at getgotak.com/ridar and does not require our hardware to be attached in order to pick up drones emitting in your AO. We are also working on iOS solutions with a standalone app and a native TAK Aware integration.

Obviously, direct EUD sensing has limited range, hence the RIDAR-FM for long-range detection, optional ADS-B tracking, and unified BLE/WIFI passive radar.

Download RIDAR today and integrate airspace awareness right now. When you’re ready for a long-range purpose-built sensor, place your order at getgotak.com/ridar and equip yourself with the most advanced RID detection tooling that is native to TAK.

Thanks to all of our community members who have placed orders, performed beta testing, and have supported the mission GoTAK has set out to solve by developing plug-and-play awareness tools for every mission.

V/r

Matthew

CEO GoTAK LLC

Posted in C-UAS, Drone, Guest Post, TAK | Comments Off on GoTAK Offers RIDAR ATAK Plugin for Free

Quantum Systems selected for Japan’s Counter-UAS Proof-of-Concept Program

Wednesday, July 15th, 2026

Quantum Systems has been selected by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) to participate in Japan’s Counter-UAS Proof-of-Concept Program, supporting the evaluation of next-generation interceptor drone capabilities.

Tokyo/Japan, 15 July 2026 – Quantum Systems has been selected by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) to participate in Japan’s Counter-UAS Proof-of-Concept Program. The initiative forms part of ATLA’s Early Acquisition Program, which aims to accelerate the evaluation and deployment of next-generation interceptor drone capabilities for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Quantum Systems’ selection reflects the company’s internationally sought-after expertise in counter-UAS technologies and expands its engagement with allied defence stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific region.

Martin Karkour, Chief Revenue Officer at Quantum Systems, said:

“Our selection by ATLA reflects the growing international demand for interoperable counter-UAS capabilities. Participating in ATLA’s programme allows us to contribute our operational expertise while deepening long-term industrial and defence cooperation. We look forward to further strengthening our long-term partnership with one of the Indo-Pacific’s most important defence innovators.”

The programme represents another milestone in Quantum Systems’ international growth and reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering interoperable autonomous capabilities that address rapidly evolving airborne threats.

Posted in C-UAS, International, Press Release | No Comments »