DIU, NorthCom partner up to confront the military’s ‘most pressing’ counter-drone challenges

The Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) and U.S. Northern Command are launching two new initiatives aimed at improving the military's ability to detect, track, and neutralise small, often custom-built enemy drones while minimising risks to people and infrastructure. These efforts include a prize challenge for low-cost sensing technologies and a solicitation for low-collateral defeat (LCD) options, both aligned with the Defence Department’s Replicator initiative — a strategic campaign established in 2023 to rapidly adopt advanced autonomous systems in response to China’s military buildup. The new solicitation, open until May 16, is designed to integrate swiftly into existing counter-UAS programs and reflects growing collaboration with allies like the U.K., marking the first bilateral commercial effort with the British Ministry of Defence. These programs aim to accelerate innovation, bolster defence capabilities, and modernise procurement by leveraging commercial technologies.

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