U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) has successfully validated a new Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) “fly-away kit” during a week-long certification exercise at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The milestone marks a significant advancement in America’s ability to defend critical military installations from the rapidly growing threat of small and tactical drones.
An 11-member operations and technical team conducted the first field certification, engaging over 100 drone targets in simulated attack scenarios. The exercises tested the system’s full range of capabilities — including drone detection, target tracking, and precision engagement — under realistic operational conditions.
The evaluation was carried out in close coordination with the 5th Bomb Wing, which hosts part of the U.S. Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet. The successful completion of the tests validates the system’s readiness for rapid deployment and reinforces USNORTHCOM’s commitment to developing flexible, mobile defense solutions to counter emerging aerial threats.
As drone warfare evolves at an unprecedented pace, the C-sUAS fly-away kit represents a crucial step toward strengthening homeland defense. USNORTHCOM’s initiative ensures U.S. bases remain equipped to detect, identify, and neutralize hostile drones before they pose a risk to personnel or mission-critical assets.
