U.S. Military Develops Diverse Systems to Counter Drone Threats

The U.S. military is developing a variety of tools to address the growing threat of drones, including microwave weapons capable of incapacitating multiple drones, interceptors, and electronic warfare systems. Drones vary significantly in size, speed, cost, and operation, which means systems designed to counter small commercial quadcopters may not be suitable for larger attack drones or coordinated drone swarms. As a result, the U.S. military is combining different detection methods and defensive technologies rather than relying on a single solution. An assessment by the Congressional Budget Office in 2026 also emphasized the value of layered defense.

The Necessity of Multiple Defensive Technologies

Here are seven examples covering electronic warfare, directed energy, kinetic interceptors, and integrated air defense, distinguishing between systems that have been tested or deployed and those still under evaluation.

1. High-Power Microwave Weapons: IFPC-HPM
The U.S. Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) high-power microwave system disrupts or incapacitates multiple small drones by emitting electromagnetic energy. Unlike weapons that target individual threats, microwave systems have the potential to counter multiple drones in a single engagement area. In April 2025, Army personnel tested the IFPC-HPM during the Balikatan exercise with Philippine forces, including a live-fire demonstration against a swarm of drones.

2. Coyote Interceptor Drone – Coyote 2C
Developed by RTX, the Coyote is a radar-guided interceptor designed to physically defeat hostile drones. It can be integrated into the Army's fixed and mobile counter-drone defense systems, with both kinetic and non-kinetic variants available. In January 2024, the Army awarded RTX a $75 million contract for 600 Coyote 2C interceptors, highlighting the expanded efforts to defend against small drones.

3. Automated Targeting Mounted Gun System – BLADE
The Low Altitude Drone Engagement System transforms the Army's existing remote weapon stations into systems capable of engaging small drones. It combines automatic detection and tracking capabilities with artillery response, providing a kinetic alternative for electronic warfare. In August 2025, during the Flytrap 4.0 project in Poland, soldiers used BLADE mounted on Stryker armored vehicles to defeat multiple drones, with reported ranges of 500 to 800 meters (0.3 to 0.5 miles).

4. Radio Frequency Detection and Electronic Warfare – NINJA
The Air Force's Non-State Joint Air Threat Denial Program utilizes radio frequency signals associated with drones and their operators to detect, locate, identify, and help defeat threats. This approach can provide warnings without relying entirely on radar. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, as of 2023, NINJA has been installed at 99 Air Force bases. The effectiveness of electronic warfare depends on the communication and operational characteristics of the target.

5. Shipboard Laser Dazzler System – ODIN
The Navy's Optical Dazzling Interceptor (ODIN) uses lasers to interfere with the optical sensors of drones rather than destroying each target with munitions. This can help disrupt a drone's ability to observe or navigate using its cameras. The Navy reports that seven ODIN systems have been installed on ships, with a dedicated training program established in 2025. ODIN is primarily a sensor-dazzling system rather than a high-energy laser designed to penetrate aircraft.

6. Drone-to-Drone Interception – Bumblebee V2
Bumblebee V2 is designed not to launch missiles or jam signals but to collide directly with hostile drones. The U.S. Army's Joint Task Force 401 signed a $5.2 million agreement with Perennial Autonomy in January 2026, with deliveries expected to begin in March. The Army's Global Response Force aims to conduct operational assessments, making it a newer capability still under evaluation rather than a widely deployed defense measure.

7. Integrated, Layered Counter-Drone Defense – Golden Shield
The Army's Golden Shield concept connects sensors, command and control software, and defensive weapons to reduce the time between detecting a drone and intercepting it. In April 2026, during a live-fire exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, the Army demonstrated a platform where autonomous sensors detected and classified a hostile drone, then relayed data and interception commands to a weapon system on another platform. This effort remains part of the Army's experiments with layered protection for armored units.

Challenges of Integrating Defense Systems

Why the U.S. military needs multiple counter-drone technologies
A single system cannot reliably counter every type of drone. Microwave weapons can address small swarms, interceptors can physically destroy individual threats, electronic warfare can disrupt vulnerable communications, and lasers can interfere with optical sensors. Cannon-based systems provide another option when physical engagement is necessary. The challenge lies in integrating these capabilities into a defense system that can quickly identify threats, select appropriate responses, and avoid wasting expensive interceptors on cheap drones. Recent Army exercises indicate that future counter-drone defenses will increasingly rely on integrating sensors, software, and multiple types of effectors into a coordinated system rather than a single weapon.