The Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) Office (JCO) next year plans to conduct a demonstration to counter warms of small drones and is seeking help with the planning for the exercise.
The demonstration is planned for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, which is the April through May 2024 period, and would feature drone swarm targets of at least 20 and up to 50 Group 1 and 2 aircraft at once and at least six Group 3 UAS at one time. Group 1 UAS have a maximum gross take-off weight up to 20 pounds, Group 2 between 21 and 55 pounds, and Group 3 less than 1,320 pounds.
The JCO’s July 19 Request for Information wants responses for the procurement, preparation, and piloting of target drones for the swarm attacks. The request also seeks pricing for up to 500 Group 1 and 2 air vehicles and up to 30 Group 3 aircraft.
The threat of swarming drone threats exists and is evolving, a JCO official said last week.
“We can see it in Ukraine and other areas of the world,” Army Col. Michael Parent, chief of the JCO’s acquisition and resources division, told reporters. “And that’s one area that we’re looking at.”
The JCO used the media roundtable to discuss results from his office’s most recent demonstration, which was held in May and June at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., and showcased high-powered microwave and kinetic solutions against suicide drones (Defense Daily, July 17).