Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Counter UAS Technologies
During the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Black Dart exercise for countering UAS, Northrop Grumman displayed two types of counter-UAS technology, with each having the ability to recognize and detect threatening small unmanned systems.
The first technology is the Mobile Application for UAS Identification (MAUI) system. This system, known as a mobile acoustic sensor, gives android phones beyond-line-of-sight detection and identification capabilities in noisy areas, while seeking out Group 1 drones through the phone’s microphone. Any small UAS that weighs less than 20 pounds, flies lower than 1,200 feet and flies slower than 100 knots would fall under the Group 1 category.
The second technology is the company’s Drone Restricted Access Using Known EW (DRAKE) system. This system, known as a radio-frequency negation system, provides non-kinetic, selective electronic attack of Group 1 drones. It does this while maintaining friendly force communications during counter UAS missions.
According to Chuck Johnson, director of integrated fires for Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, these technologies are arriving right on time.
“The proliferation of UAS threats is a growing concern,” Johnson said. “In the highly complex threat scenarios we are seeing, the users need innovative and agile capabilities such as beyond-line-of-sight detection and non-kinetic negation that can be rapidly integrated with fielded systems.”
