Army Officials: Counter-Drone Missile System May Be Up for Competition in 2025

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — U.S. Army officials are contemplating a competition in fiscal year 2025 to identify a next-generation interceptor for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, the Army’s program executive officer for missiles and space, announced on August 6 at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium.

The Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center currently assesses systems like Raytheon’s Coyote and Blue Halo’s Next-Generation C-UAS Missile. According to Lozano, there are other companies developing counter-UAS interceptors that could potentially be adapted to intercept rockets, large-caliber projectiles, and possibly cruise missiles.

The planned competition aims to evaluate if there are superior technologies that the Army should consider investing in, Lozano explained. “This is a method to ensure our investments are achieving the desired outcomes,” he said.

In March 2023, the Army issued a requirement through the Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium, managed by Advanced Technology International, for the development of a Long-Range Kinetic Interceptor prototype, an AvMC spokesperson confirmed.

The Army and the Joint Counter-small UAS Office are overseeing the development and testing of the Next-Generation Counter-Missile (NGCM) prototype. Selected vendors received immediate funding, while 11 other candidates were placed in a reserve pool for potential future selection.

Additionally, the Army is planning a competition for a new handheld system to counter drones. Lozano acknowledged that handheld devices have limited power but mentioned promising capabilities observed during a recent field exercise with the 101st Airborne Division.

A competition for a mobile flat-panel radar system to detect drone threats is also expected in FY25. The Army already uses similar technology in the Stryker combat vehicle’s mobile counter-UAS system but is seeking to enhance and standardize these systems for future operations, Lozano added.**