Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS)

The Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Program is a Navy initiative under Program Element 0604636N focused on developing and integrating advanced solutions to protect critical naval assets from threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The program's primary goal is to provide an integrated Family of Systems (FoS) capable of advanced target discrimination and defeat, addressing both inadvertent and hostile UAS activity. The FY 2026 budget request supports ongoing system assessments, program management, and the refinement of material solutions. There is an emphasis on open architecture and interoperability standards to ensure seamless integration across Navy platforms.

DRAKE 2.0 C-UAS Afloat is a key line item within this program, specifically targeting afloat force protection. The DRAKE system is an electronic warfare (EW) solution designed to detect, identify, track, and defeat small UAS (sUAS) threats to naval vessels. The program is currently undergoing a technology refresh (Increment 1), replacing legacy hardware with next-generation software-defined radios (SDR), processors, and a new graphical user interface (CDU 2.0) to enhance signal processing, bandwidth, and situational awareness. Increment 2 will focus on integrating DRAKE with shipboard command and control (C2) systems and optimizing antennas for improved UAS threat engagement. These upgrades are intended to keep pace with evolving commercial sUAS technologies and ensure robust non-kinetic defense capabilities.

Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) FoS (Project 3241) addresses both ashore and afloat requirements, providing initial and expanded material solutions to high-priority Navy locations. Initial deployments included systems such as CORIAN, Ninja, DroneDefender, and DroneBuster, with subsequent enhancements adding electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, radar, advanced EW, and both kinetic and non-kinetic defeat mechanisms. The FY 2026 funding supports a hardware technology refresh for CORIAN sites, system assessments, and the development of data fusion architectures for integrating external sensors into a common C2 environment. The program works closely with the Joint C-UAS Office (JCO) to align with broader DoD efforts and to ensure the rapid identification and fielding of new detect-and-deter capabilities.

Congressional Adds in FY 2024 provided targeted funding for the development of a backpackable electronic attack (EA) module and further enhancements to the DRAKE system, including the CDU 2.0 interface and optimized antennas. These efforts aim to increase the portability and operational flexibility of C-UAS solutions, supporting both rapid deployment and integration with existing Navy force protection architectures. The Congressional Add funding also enabled accelerated development and testing of these capabilities, ensuring timely delivery to meet urgent operational needs.

The acquisition strategy for the C-UAS program leverages a combination of government laboratories, University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), and prime contractors. The strategy emphasizes technology insertion and refresh, utilizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components where feasible to accelerate deployment and reduce costs. Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) are used to integrate, test, and field hardware and software upgrades, ensuring that the C-UAS FoS remains adaptable to emerging threats and technological advancements.

A key objective across all C-UAS efforts is to improve interoperability between ashore and afloat systems, enabling a cohesive defense posture regardless of operational environment. The program also prioritizes the development of advanced target discrimination and defeat capabilities, including both kinetic and non-kinetic options, to address the full spectrum of UAS threats. Funding supports ongoing threat assessments, system engineering, and the maturation of low-collateral defeat technologies, with the goal of minimizing risk to personnel and critical infrastructure.