US Army to Receive Additional Anti-Drone Systems From Leonardo

Leonardo DRS has secured a task order to deliver additional counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) to the US Army.

The award supports the mobile-Low, slow, small unmanned aircraft system integrated defeat system (M-LIDS) program of the army’s Integrated Fires/Rapid Capabilities Office.

Under the agreement, the company will provide kinetic defeat vehicles and related spares to intercept small aerial drones using electronic warfare.

The M-LIDS system combines the capability of the XM914 30-millimeter kinetic defeat effector cannon and Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform turret by precision control developer Moog Inc.

Instead of explosives, M-LIDS defeats threats through high-velocity impact and destructive shock waves.

“Leonardo DRS is proud to be a member of the M-LIDS team, and we appreciate the opportunity to deliver additional vehicles. Drones have become a dangerous threat to our warfighters,” DRS Land Systems General Manager and Senior Vice President Aaron Hankins stated.

“Delivering M-LIDS vehicles remains one of our highest priorities, and we are excited about this new task order.”

DRS M-LIDS in US Army

The agreement follows a $60 million contract signed by DRS and US Army to support the M-LIDs program in 2022.

The same year, M-LIDS was demonstrated with a two-vehicle setup to trial kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities.

The success enabled US defense to deploy the increment to overseas military installations and allied forces.

DRS is the lead systems integration provider for the US Army’s mobile C-UAS platforms.