L3Harris launches C-UAS initiative

Although Leidos Australia has won the SIP role in Defence’s Project LAND156, US prime contractor L3Harris Technologies has launched its own Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) initiative.

L3Harris says it is rapidly responding to the US Department of Defense and allied partners’ urgent need to identify, track and defeat small UASs. The company has established a new Counter-Unmanned Systems (C-UxS), leveraging its breadth of capabilities to overcome unmanned threats across the air, land and sea domains, L3Harris adds.

Small unmanned autonomous vehicles are becoming increasingly cheaper, more deadly and easier to manufacture for surprise, large-scale swarm attacks, the company says. With advancements in 5G technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, attack drones are evolving at an astonishing pace.

“Delivering effective C-UxS solutions is a mission-first priority at L3Harris,” said Jon Rambeau, the company’s President of Integrated Mission Systems (IMS). “As the Trusted Disruptor, we are bringing our full capabilities to bear to overcome this complex threat. Traditional solutions that take years to produce are not a viable option when UAV software is maturing by the minute and hardware is changing by the hour.”

Tom Kirkland, Vice President and General Manager of L3Harris’s Targeting and Sensor Systems (TSS) sector under IMS has been appointed to spearhead the company’s consolidated C-UxS effort. Kirkland, an Army veteran himself, will oversee several cross-functional teams to ensure that every creative solution and piece of emerging technology is considered to combat this threat.

In order to catapult ahead of the current pace of unmanned advancements, more than one solution will be required, he believes. According to Kirkland, L3Harris has three core strengths in this regard: decades of experience with the integration of autonomous systems; a deep understanding of customers’ needs from L3Harris C-UxS already fielded in combat operations; and rock-solid partnerships across the commercial and defence industries.

L3Harris already has established and proven counter-unmanned systems such as VAMPIRE™, CORVUS-RAVEN, Nimble Finch and Drone Guardian, the company points out. The new effort provides expanded and customized C-UxS offerings by combining existing solutions with other key battlefield technologies, such as:

• Passive sensing technology produced by subsidiary WESCAM’s electro-optical infrared systems
• Mission management software like Widow®
• AI/ML swarm management tools like AMORPHOUS™
• Proximity fuze technology for increased accuracy and effectiveness
• Broad electronic, intelligence and cyber capabilities like Next-Generation Multi-mission Electromagnetic Countermeasures
• Resilient communication networks that reliably connect operators and platforms

The VAMPIRE system is an example of the coordinated effort L3Harris has placed under the C-UxS umbrella. Developed in months, VAMPIRE has been proven in combat operations to be a very reliable and cost-effective response to the growing UAS threat, especially in European operations.

The next evolution of VAMPIRE is already underway, says the company. It will feature enhanced sensors, new electronic warfare effectors and AI/ML capabilities to more quickly identify and target unmanned threats at a greater distance. Customized VAMPIRE variants are also planned for land, air and maritime domains as well, the company adds.