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🛡️UK MoD Seeks £5M Anti-Drone Tech for Troop Protection

UK Army Wants Laser-Driven Drone Defense

TL;DR

The UK MoD is seeking £5M in anti-drone tech to protect troops from saturation attacks. The tender, Project PANOPTES, aims to deliver autonomous C-UAS systems for NATO Class 1 drones.

The UK MoD has launched a £5 million tender, Project PANOPTES, to develop autonomous anti-drone technology for protecting troops. This tech must detect, track, and neutralize low-cost threats, including potential swarm attacks. The system must be mountable on Army vehicles and operate autonomously. The initial focus is on NATO Class 1 uncrewed aerial systems, weighing up to 150 kg. The Royal Navy is also pursuing similar tech, with the DragonFire laser weapon expected on a Type 45 destroyer next year. The first stage of submissions closes on September 23, with detailed proposals to follow for promising ideas.

UK MoD Seeks £5M Anti-Drone Tech for Troop Protection — theregister

Key Points

1

Project PANOPTES seeks autonomous C-UAS systems to protect troops from drone threats, with £5 million available.

2

The tender aims to deliver tech for NATO Class 1 drones, weighing up to 150 kg, and must operate autonomously.

3

The first stage of submissions for Project PANOPTES closes at midday on September 23, 2023.

4

The Royal Navy is also pursuing similar tech, with the DragonFire laser weapon expected on a Type 45 destroyer next year.

5

The MoD is particularly interested in Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) effectors, but credible alternatives are also considered.

Why It Matters

If you're working on defense tech, this £5M tender is a big opportunity. The UK MoD wants autonomous systems to protect troops from drone threats, with a focus on NATO Class 1 drones. This could lead to significant advancements in anti-drone technology and autonomous systems.

anti-dronePANOPTESUK MoDautonomous systemsdefense tech

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

If you're working on defense tech, this £5M tender is a big opportunity. The UK MoD wants autonomous systems to protect troops from drone threats, with a focus on NATO Class 1 drones. This could lead to significant advancements in anti-drone technology and autonomous systems.

What happened?

The UK MoD is seeking £5M in anti-drone tech to protect troops from saturation attacks. The tender, Project PANOPTES, aims to deliver autonomous C-UAS systems for NATO Class 1 drones.

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