Meeting the US Air Force’s Urgent Needs in Counter-UAS: Delivering Practical Air Defense Solutions for Evolving Drone Threats
Written by Ret. Lt. Col. Michael Twining, Director, U.S. Air Force Missions at DroneShield
The modern battlefield is evolving faster than at any time in recent memory. As unmanned aerial systems (UAS) continue to proliferate—from state adversaries to irregular actors—the U.S. Air Force has recognized the urgent need to strengthen its counter-drone and air defense capabilities. The Fiscal Year 2026 budget highlights this shift, with an $836 million investment in Air Base Air Defense Systems (ABADS)—a significant increase from the $164 million allocated just a year earlier. This funding surge reflects a clear priority: protecting both established installations and forward-operating bases with adaptable, layered CUAS technology.
Air Force Systems Driving the Next Phase of Air Defense
Two core programs are shaping the Air Force’s counter-UAS architecture:
Small Unmanned Aircraft Defense System (SUADS): Designed to detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones, SUADS leverages electronic warfare and advanced command-and-control tools. Procurement will expand from six units in 2024 to eight in 2026, ensuring broader coverage across key locations.
ABADS-MD (Missile Defense variant): By integrating the Army’s Long-Range Persistent Surveillance System (ALPS)—a passive, low-signature sensor—the Air Force is nearly doubling ABADS-MD deployment from 11 units in 2025 to 18 in 2026. This provides stealthy surveillance and robust protection against higher-tier missile threats.
Equally important, the Air Force is preparing to operationalize non-kinetic effectors in 2026. These include directed energy weapons, lasers and high-powered microwaves, that can disable incoming UAS without expending costly interceptors.
Image: DroneShield’s DroneSentry-X Mk2
DroneShield’s Role in Supporting Air Force CUAS Missions
During my time in uniform, I saw firsthand how rapidly drone threats could adapt. Effective counter-drone solutions must balance reliability, portability, and speed of deployment. That is precisely where DroneShield’s CUAS technology aligns with Air Force needs.
Detection and Early Warning: DroneSentry solutions employ SensorFusionAI to detect, identify, and classify drones in contested electromagnetic environments, reducing false alarms and providing airmen with accurate, actionable intelligence.
Electronic Warfare Defeat: DroneShield’s electronic jamming technologies sever adversary command-and-control links, neutralizing hostile UAS while limiting collateral impact on surrounding systems.
Non-Kinetic Engagement: In line with the Air Force’s direction, DroneShield emphasizes precision defeat techniques that minimize risk to personnel and infrastructure—critical for operations in densely populated or coalition environments.
Expeditionary Design: Built with Agile Combat Employment (ACE) in mind, DroneShield platforms are modular, and rapidly deployable, making them well-suited for forward-operating locations and unpredictable threat environments.
Securing Airspace in an Era of Persistent Drone Threats
The USAF is not merely modernizing; it is adapting to a future where air defense must extend below traditional radar horizons. Low-cost drones and swarming tactics demand solutions that are fast, flexible, and integrated. DroneShield’s CUAS technology directly addresses these operational realities by providing a layered defense approach—detect, track, disrupt, and defeat.
For the Air Force, the mission is clear: maintain control of the skies, whether against near-peer missile threats or commercial drones repurposed by adversaries. By combining investment in ABADS, SUADS, and non-kinetic systems with proven CUAS solutions, the service is taking decisive steps to secure critical airspace and ensure the protection of bases, personnel, and joint operations.
As the threat environment grows more complex, partnerships between defense innovators and the Air Force will remain vital. Counter-drone technology is no longer optional—it is essential for the future of U.S. air defense.