Two signals this week point the same way on counter-drone kit.
First, capability. Open-source reporting indicates Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has validated CACI International's SkyValor system — formerly Merlin — for operational use across the US joint force, following evaluation at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. SkyValor is a trailer-mounted, multi-sensor system that uses non-kinetic defeat — radio-frequency jamming and capture nets — to detect and defeat small drones across Groups 1 to 5 at ranges reported beyond 75 km, running autonomously around the clock. Testing was run with border and aviation agencies, not just the military.
Second, supply. At an investor conference on 12 June, AeroVironment said it had grown counter-UAS manufacturing capacity by 300% over the past year and planned a further 500% over the next twelve months, across radio-frequency, laser and kinetic-intercept systems. The company pointed to a large US budget request for counter-drone and one-way-attack programmes and a global C-UAS market it projects reaching 17 billion dollars by 2030.
For protective planners the read-across is practical. Equipment that was experimental or scarce a year ago is heading into volume production, which should shorten lead times and widen the field of vetted, non-kinetic options for fixed-site and convoy over-watch — including for private-sector buyers, not only government. It is worth refreshing your view of what is procurable before the next site survey assumes the old constraints.
