Finalizada\u00a0la etapa de capacitaci\u00f3n y adiestramiento en los que se simularon m\u00faltiples ataques de peque\u00f1os drones sobre instalaciones cr\u00edticas, el\u00a0US Army Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)\u00a0ha aprobado la conformaci\u00f3n de un equipo operacional de 11 hombres, encargados de la respuesta r\u00e1pida contra la amenaza de UAS en las bases de esa fuerza. La validaci\u00f3n y certificaci\u00f3n del denominado \u201cCounter-small UAS fly-away kit\u201d, habilita a este grupo de especialistas, equipados con sofisticados sistemas que incluyen m\u00faltiples sensores y efectores asistidos por IA, para cumplir sus misi\u00f3n de detectar, identificar, adquirir y neutralizar las amenazas UAS con efectores del tipo \u201cSoft \/ Hard kill\u201d, tratando de minimizar el eventual da\u00f1o colateral que la defensa C-UAS puede ocasionar en instalaciones militares y zonas pobladas.<\/p>\n
Following successful field exercises simulating defense against drone incursions, the U.S. Army\u2019s Northern Command has formed an operational team to rapidly counter drone threats to military bases within the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe validation and certification of our Counter-small UAS fly-away kit is an important step in being able to support installation commanders within the United States as they defend against drone incursions,\u201d Gen. Gregory Guillot, North American Aerospace Defense Command and USNORTHCOM commander, said\u00a0in a release<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMoving beyond an advisory role, we now have a team with equipment that is able to rapidly deploy and provide active and passive detection capabilities and low-collateral non-kinetic and low-kinetic defeat options in one package.\u201d<\/p>\n The Army certified the unit of 11 soldiers as an operational team following high-pressure field tests in Florida and North Dakota, which saw soldiers with various specialized backgrounds from USNORTHCOM and 21st Space Base Delta at Peterson Space Force Base practice defending domestic military sites using NORTHCOM\u2019s Counter-small UAS fly-away kit.<\/p>\n The kit, produced by Anduril, forms an all-round web of sensors and effectors to detect, target and disable intrusive small drones. With overlapping layers of technology, the system forms a shield to detect and track drones from all directions.<\/p>\n The kit uses Anduril\u2019s Wisp, an AI-infrared system with 360-degree motion sensor, plus\u00a0Pulsar<\/a>, an AI-enhanced electromagnetic warfare platform that can detect and deny electronic threats. Added to this is the Heimdal mobile sensor trailer that uses thermal optics and radar to seek incoming targets. The systems work together in synchrony.<\/p>\n The kinetic strike element of the kit is Anvil \u2014 a flying, self-guided interceptor that\u00a0hunts down intrusive drones\u00a0<\/a>and rams into them, hurling them out of the sky. A flexible air weapon, Anvil includes a munition variant armed with high explosives.<\/p>\n The counter-drone fly-away kit team first tested its abilities in September during exercise Falcon Peak 25.2, which saw\u00a0soldiers of the 10th Special Forces Group<\/a>\u00a0play the role of adversaries launching drone threats for military and interagency partners to respond to.<\/p>\n Tasked with practicing the defense of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the fly-away kit team succeeded in stopping over 100 unmanned aerial targets over a span of several days.<\/p>\n Most of the operators had no previous experience with drones, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joey Frey, C-sUAS response program manager for NORTHCOM, said in a release.<\/p>\n \u201cThis team of 11 far exceeded expectations of operators whose first time seeing the system was 30 days ago,\u201d Frey said. \u201cTheir ability to adapt to an unfamiliar mission set and learn the tactics of air defenders was a breath of fresh air.\u201d<\/p>\n