The Pentagon\u2019s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 will soon deploy counter-drone technology that uses nets to capture intruding unmanned aerial systems.<\/p>\n
The JIATF-401, tasked with coordinating counter-drone defense efforts across all military branches, announced on Sunday that it has awarded a contract for two advanced DroneHunter F700 systems, according to a release. <\/a><\/p>\n Designed by Fortem Technologies, the DroneHunter 4700 is a lightweight system that uses AI and radar to identify, pursue and capture other drones using an array of expanding nets.<\/p>\n It can easily capture and drag away small quadcopter drones using a tether net. It can also bring down much larger unmanned aerial systems classed as Group 2 drones \u2014 including small fixed-wing aircraft \u2014 using nets equipped with parachutes, called drogues.<\/a><\/p>\n A DroneHunter system can work fully autonomously either alone or in cooperation with other DroneHunters to effectively guard airspace and conduct patrols against potential threats. <\/p>\n The contract was made in accord with the Pentagon\u2019s Replicator 2 initiative, which focuses on boosting defense against small drones. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have just one measure of effectiveness: to deliver state-of-the-art counter-UAS capabilities to our warfighters both at home and abroad,\u201d said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, JIATF 401 director, in a release. \u201cThis purchase of the DroneHunter system is a key first step in accomplishing our Replicator 2 mission.\u201d <\/p>\n