This project presents a valuable opportunity for smaller companies to engage directly with end-users.

The UK and US have launched a new counter uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) programme to address the pervasive threat of drones.

Known as Vanaheim, the project aims to discover new capabilities and suppliers while shaping the future of C-UAS operations, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 21 March.

Deploying innovative, mobile C-UAS systems is critical in an era where drones are now an indispensable capability for every unit.

Project Vanaheim aims to address this, specifically focusing on the following operational challenge: How a tactical unit can be organised and equipped to persistently detect, track, identify and defeat class 1 UAS threats.

The project will culminate in a field test event in Germany in June, with suppliers working directly alongside the British Army and US Army, helping to shape their requirements and potential solutions.

Interested parties should respond to the UK MoD’s request for information by 2 April.

Subsequent events are expected to follow in July and August. The Ukrainian Ground Forces will also be participating, while the Australian Army will attend as an observer.

According to the press release, the systems must be capable of countering class 1 UAS including first-person view drones, be “usable by generalist soldiers”, and carried either on the soldier or by a light vehicle.

The systems must be between technology readiness level six to nine, use ’generic vehicle architecture/generic systems architecture’, integrate with battlespace management applications and ideally be Sapient compliant.