The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has come up with a bold concept for defending forces against evolving aerial threats: a “flying wall” of coordinated drones.
Known as Curtain Call, the tech links off-the-shelf sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to create a low-cost, rapidly deployable alternative to bespoke defense systems.
By deploying a large swarm of drones, it can establish a flexible airborne shield in minutes to help stop incoming threats.
Curtain Call recently underwent initial testing under the Warfighter Laboratory Incentive Fund program, assessing its readiness and identifying potential performance gaps.
The trial gave engineers a chance to address early challenges before moving to more complex demonstrations.
“In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, we need agile and affordable solutions to protect our forces on the continent,” said Lt. Col. Jared Bindl, chief of Science, Technology, and Innovation at AFRICOM.
“The demonstration achieved its intended purpose: to expose system realities early, reduce risk, and generate decision-quality insight to inform the next phase of execution.”
Answering the Call?
Curtain Call reflects a shift in the US military’s approach to countering cheap, mass-produced drones capable of damaging critical assets or threatening deployed troops.
It could protect dismounted units lacking reliable counter-drone options or shield forward operating bases where traditional air defenses are too costly or slow to respond.
By creating a system that is “sustainable” and “cost-effective,” AFRICOM aims to stay ahead of aerial threats as they continue to evolve.
“This demonstration is a key step in building a more resilient and cost-effective force protection posture,” Bindl stated.
