Both firms were selected for the programme last year.   

Anduril and Zone 5 Technologies have secured additional funding from the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to further develop counter-UAS (C-UAS) prototypes and solutions for the ‘Counter NEXT’ programme, a 29 September DIU announcement has revealed.  

This funding will support refinement of their C-UAS prototypes, integration into military combat systems, and support safety testing ahead of a “live fire test event” in 2026.  

Both firms were selected in 2024 from over 65 applicants to develop prototype C-UASs under the Counter NEXT programme which is focused on leveraging dual-use and commercial technology to accelerate the development of C-UAS interceptors for class 3 UAS threats and above. 

Specifically, the programme is focused on providing a “deeper interceptor magazine” for US forces while also simplifying and accelerating the reloading process and addressing cost issues, among other things, the DIU said. 

Since their initial selection, Anduril and Zone 5 Technologies have completed design and developmental sprints as well as successful baseline flight testing. 

Iterative improvements are now being made to both solutions based on the data, user feedback, and knowledge gathered during these stages, the DIU said. 

Counter NEXT vendors use commercial components wherever possible to keep costs low, the DIU said, while also ensuring solutions are not “over-engineered” and the use of expensive materials is minimised.  

To enable improvements and integration of new components, the prototypes being built use “a modular open systems architecture” and are designed for mass production, the DIU added. 

The Counter NEXT programme is just one of several ongoing C-UAS initiatives in the US. Others include Project Vanaheim, launched with the UK in March to help equip tactical units with the ability to detect and destroy class 1 UAS threats. 

Another programme led by the DIU and the UK, known as the Replicator 2 initiative, focuses on the development of low-collateral C-UAS solutions that can take out drones in highly populated areas.