Ukrainian military aids U.S. Army in drone defense experimentation

The U.S. Army is testing experimental weapons against drones with the help of the Ukrainian military, according to the Defense One media.

The Defense One has interviewed weapons’ developers.

According to representatives of the government contracting company SAIC, the United States is sending anti-drone ammunition as part of an experimental platform.

The platform should help Ukraine shoot down Iranian-made drones.

On Tuesday, the United States announced a major package of military assistance to Ukraine focused on air defense. And in this list of equipment and weapons there is a point that is called “10 mobile c-UAS laser-guided rocket systems.”

In January 2023, the U.S. Army held a competition, looking for an effective system to counter loitering munitions.

SAIC, which participated in the competition, plans to send ten platforms to Ukraine. This was announced to Defense One last week by a representative of the company. The conversation took place on the sidelines of the United States Army Association Global Force symposium.

Russia continues to use Shahed-136 kamikaze drones to attack not only the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine is shooting down many Iranian-made drones. But they cost about $20,000 per unit at a time when the Armed Forces sometimes have to use significantly higher cost air defense missiles to counter this threat.

The Army and another test participant, Invariant Systems, have not confirmed that they plan to supply experimental weapons to Ukraine. But they have reported other details confirming SAIC’s claims.

Contract documents provided by the army indicate that the purpose of the January tests was to destroy third-class drones, that is, aircraft weighing more than 25 kg.

Other information in the contract document also corresponds to the information provided by SAIC. For example, the documents say that the winning project should be ready to be sent to partner countries within 30-90 days after the conclusion of the contract – about the same amount of time that has passed between the January tests and the April news about the sending of systems to Ukraine.

The contract also states that systems can finance Title 22 bodies, which are used to finance security assistance to Ukraine.

In the January tests, SAIC used BAE APKWS laser-guided rockets that reached 100 percent accuracy, according to a company spokesman.

According to Greg Fortier, the vice president of SAIC’s Army Business Unit, these missiles are cheaper than Ukrainian air defense missiles. One such munition costs less than $30,000.

The system also includes a M240 machine gun and an electronic warfare system that can take control of a commercial drone, including any DJI-branded system.

Fortier said their system detected the drone from more than six miles away and hit it from three miles away, which exceeds the Army’s need — 1.2 miles.

Invariant CEO David Anderson said he had not learned if his system was part of the Defense Department’s announced shipment.