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Outgoing AFRICOM Leader Cites Counter-Drone, Long-Endurance ISR As Top Capability Needs

Matthew Beinart By
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Outgoing AFRICOM Leader Cites Counter-Drone, Long-Endurance ISR As Top Capability Needs
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, meets with troops assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, Nov. 3, 2019, on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Townsend visited to engage with key partners on the long-term stability in East Africa, oversee the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express and recognize U.S. service members in the region. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble)

The outgoing leader of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said last week he sees a need for new counter-drone and long-endurance surveillance systems to bolster capabilities for U.S. forces and partner nations in the region.  Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of AFRICOM, told reporters he specifically sees the threat of armed drones becoming an increasing challenge similar to the threat posed by adversaries in the Middle East in recent years. “For the last six years, American soldiers [in the Middle East]…

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