Written by Efthimios Tsiliopoulos
The widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and especially FPV drones, has radically changed the protection requirements of ground forces. If a few years ago, countering UAVs was considered the exclusive mission of air defense, operations in Ukraine, the Middle East and the South Caucasus have proven that now every military echelon, from the platoon to the army corps, needs organic Counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities.
The basic principle now adopted by most Western armed forces is the creation of a multi-layered defense, where each level of command has different means at its disposal, depending on the range, reaction time and cost of engagement. The goal is not only to shoot down the drones, but the preservation of the operational freedom of friendly forces and the protection of critical infrastructure and formations in anti-drone defense.
At the platoon level, it is unrealistic to expect complex air defense systems. However, the experience of Ukraine shows that even simple measures can significantly reduce losses. Continuous aerial observation, the use of portable RF emission detectors, the dispersion of personnel and vehicles, thermal and optical concealment, as well as strict discipline in electromagnetic emissions, are
At the same time, several armies are testing portable short-range jammers, as well as special cartridges for smooth-bore weapons as a last resort against FPV drones, which operate at extremely short distances.
Company, battalion and brigade
The effective response begins at the company and especially battalion level, where specialized electronic warfare and sensor teams can be deployed. A modern battalion could have an organic Counter-UAS platoon with:
- short-range 3D radar,
- passive radio frequency sensors,
- electro-optical and infrared systems,
- portable and vehicle-mounted jammers-interceptor drones,
- very short-range mobile systems (VSHORAD).
Examples of such systems include Rheinmetall's German Skynex, which uses a 35mm cannon with AHEAD ammunition, the US Army's M-LIDS, which combines radar, sensors and electronic warfare on armored vehicles, and Rafael's Israeli Drone Dome, which integrates sensors, jammers and, in some versions, high-power lasers.
Interceptor drones, such as the Anduril Anvil and MARSS Interceptor, are now gaining particular importance, as they offer a lower cost per engagement compared to air defense missiles.
The brigade is the first level where full integration of sensors and weapons is required. The brigade's Counter-UAS units protect the headquarters, artillery, ammunition depots, engineering units and supply columns. Here, short-range systems such as NASAMS, IRIS-T SLM or M-SHORAD are integrated, combined with electronic warfare and UAV interceptors. At the same time, brigades are now developing sensor networks that merge data from radar, acoustic sensors, cameras and emission detectors, creating a single operational picture of the airspace.
Senior management and AI
At higher levels of command, the mission changes. The division and corps focus not on shooting down individual UAVs, but on neutralizing the entire enemy network. This includes locating control stations, command centers, production facilities, and warehouses, as well as conducting attacks with missiles, long-range artillery, or cyber operations.
Large electronic warfare units are also gaining an important role, which can interfere with, or even massively disrupt, UAV communications in large areas of operations. As for the next generation of warfare, the industry is now investing significantly in directed energy weapons, as the cost of intercepting with missiles is disproportionate when the target is a drone worth a few thousand euros.
The American DE M-SHORAD, the British DragonFire, the Israeli Iron Beam and similar German programs rely on high-power lasers that can destroy drones at almost zero cost per shot, under suitable weather conditions. At the same time, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to automatically identify targets, prioritize threats and select the most appropriate means of interception, reducing reaction time to a few seconds.
The industrial challenges
The proliferation of drones is creating a new multi-billion euro market. Companies such as Rheinmetall, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Rafael, Leonardo, Saab, MBDA, Thales, Anduril and Helsing are now investing in comprehensive Counter-UAS solutions, while almost every new air defense program incorporates capabilities to counter small UAVs.
At the same time, many countries are seeking to develop a domestic industrial base, as Ukraine's experience has shown that the needs for drones and countermeasure systems are so great that dependence on imports can become a critical operational disadvantage.
The picture that emerges is clear: Defense against drones is no longer a specialized mission of air defense, but a horizontal operational capability that must permeate the entire structure of the armed forces. The army of the future will not simply have Counter-UAS units; it will be designed from the outset so that each echelon can survive, fight and maneuver in a battlefield where drones will be the most common aerial threat.
Source https://slpress.gr/amyna/apokentronetai-stis-monades-i-antidrone-amina/
Photo andri333, https://pixabay.com
Written by Efthimios Tsiliopoulos
