AeroVironment (AV) is taking an unconventional approach to counter a range of airborne threats with its new layered counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) solution.
Known as Halo_Shield, the system is designed to detect, track, identify, and counter Group 1-5 drones, drone swarms, and subsonic cruise missiles.
It is built on a modular, “tile-based” architecture, where each tile acts as a self-contained unit that can function independently or be networked across Sentinel, Terrestrial, Nautical, Aerial, and Celestial domains.
A specialized combination of sensors, effectors, and command-and-control capabilities is integrated into each unit, drawing on technologies developed by the company and its partners.
These include systems such as the LOCUST laser weapon, Switchblade loitering munitions, and the Titan 4 and Titan MS RF C-UAS platforms.
According to the company, Halo_Shield aims to expand coverage beyond point defenses and maintain situational awareness across air, land, sea, and space.
“Halo_Shield is engineered like an edge processing-capable set of tiles for modern air defense,” said Larry Lloyd, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at AV.
“Each tile is a self-contained capability that can operate on its own or snap together to build exactly the defense architecture a mission demands.”
Filling the Gap
The company showcased the C-UAS system at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC.
Live demonstrations are currently underway, with Halo_Shield tiles already deployed at selected critical sites.
“The character of the air threat has fundamentally changed. Cheap, massed, and coordinated aerial systems are stressing traditional point defenses,” said Wahid Nawabi, chief executive officer of AV.
“Halo_Shield is our answer, a collaborative, modular approach that brings together the best of AV and a trusted supplier ecosystem to close those gaps.”
