The deal forms part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), established in February.

DHS S&T has been tasked with collaborating with private sector organisations on development of new technologies, and subsequent adoption by US government agencies. 

DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik welcomed the deal, pointing to mounting security threats that warrant the adoption of new counter-UAS technology.

“Our working relationship with DHS and their guidance and input has enabled DroneShield to rapidly increase our product capabilities for the continuously emerging C-UAS threat,” he said.

“Within the homeland security context, there is a significant and rising terrorist threat where small drones or sUAS can be effectively used by nefarious parties as a payload delivery and surveillance platform.

“In addition, there is an increasingly complex US border situation where small drones are used by drug and human smugglers, and other illegal activity, creating a need for effective and adaptable counter-UAS solutions.”

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DroneSentry-X is a detection and optional mitigation platform, designed to be adaptable for a wide range of operational environments and applications, including ground mobility operations, maritime security, and fixed-site base operations.

The platform leverages RFAI — DroneShield’s AI/ML signal detection and classification engine.

DroneSentry-X’s open architecture has been developed to enable users to integrate the platform with other solutions in a bid to enhance existing mission systems or counter-UAS capabilities.  

The system was put to the test during an exercise with the US Navy in June. 

The system was deployed aboard the Stiletto maritime demonstration boat over a six-week period, completing a number of performance and evaluation tasks.

The exercise included the testing of DroneSentry-X’s detection capability, detection and defeat ranges, on-the-move operation, and drone swarm defences.

[Related: US Navy tests DroneShield’s counter-UAS]

Charbel Kadib

News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.