Leonardo DRS has placed a $350,000 order with Axon Vision to procure AI-enabled counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) in support of US defense and homeland security missions. The agreement marks an initial step toward integrating advanced artificial intelligence into next-generation counter-drone capabilities.
The order includes a first batch of AI-based systems designed to deliver end-to-end aerial threat protection, covering detection, classification, tracking, and interception. At the center of the solution is Axon Vision’s newly developed counter-drone system, which the company claims can identify and react to fast-moving airborne threats in less than one second.
Built on a modular and open architecture, the system combines perception algorithms, autonomous decision-making, and threat classification. This design allows for rapid integration across manned and unmanned ground vehicles, as well as maritime platforms, making it suitable for a wide range of operational scenarios. Leonardo DRS is expected to incorporate the technology into its broader sensor fusion and mission systems portfolio.
The systems will undergo operational trials and live exercises, a standard US military validation process prior to wider deployment. These evaluations will focus on counter-UAS and mobile force protection missions, assessing the system’s flexibility and readiness. The deal reflects a wider US military trend toward embedding artificial intelligence in drone and counter-drone operations, alongside similar efforts by companies such as Shield AI, Anduril Industries, Northrop Grumman, and RTX.
