In recent years, the threat posed by uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) has become a critical concern for naval operations. As such, the need for effective maritime counter-UAS (C-UAS) technology has never been more pressing. This blog post explores the challenges faced by naval services across the globe and the steps some of them are taking to address this evolving threat.
Maritime Threats: A Sea Change
The proliferation of UAS technology has created new challenges for naval forces worldwide. UAS (or drones), ranging from small hobbyist quadcopters to larger military-grade systems, increasingly pose a significant threat to ships and naval installations. Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea have demonstrated the real-world impact of drone warfare.
As one real-world example, on December 3, 2023, the USS Carney, a U.S. Navy destroyer, shot down multiple drones during a sustained attack in the Red Sea. The incident took place as the Carney responded to distress calls from commercial vessels in the area. The attack was part of a series of provocations by Houthi rebels, who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea since the escalation of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.
In other concerning incidents, a suspicious drone flew over the USS Ronald Reagan at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan and another unauthorized drone likely flew over the Japanese destroyer Izumo, also at Yokosuka.
These, and several similar, incidents have pushed the naval services globally to rapidly develop and deploy effective C-UAS capabilities. Finding such solutions has been anything but smooth sailing.
Rough Seas for Maritime C-UAS
One of the primary challenges faced by navies is the cost-effectiveness of current anti-drone measures. As a default, ships use what they have – expensive missiles (in the U.S., like the SM-2 or SM-6) – to engage drone threats.
While effective, some of these missiles cost between $2.7 and $5.4 million each. Using high-end missiles against relatively inexpensive drones depletes a ship’s magazine of weapons that may be needed for more significant threats. This asymmetric situation affects a ship’s ability to remain on station and continue fighting in prolonged engagements.
These missiles also occupy valuable vertical launch cells on ships. Unlike land-based systems, shipboard C-UAS must contend with limited on-board space and resources. Space, weight, power, and cooling (SWaP-C) constraints exist in this unique environment.
Speaking of the environment, maritime C-UAS must contend with harsh conditions on the sea. Systems designed for land use often require significant modifications to withstand challenging conditions, such as constant motion, salt spray and limited maintenance opportunities.
Maintenance raises the human aspect of C-UAS operations. Implementing new C-UAS technologies requires building both operator and maintainer confidence. For operators, experts must develop new tactics. Ship crews must be trained to effectively use these systems and integrate them into their existing defense protocols.
Universally, for maritime defense services, the status quo is not sustainable – and funding has started to flow towards C-UAS. Within eight months of the first drone attack on a U.S. warship, for example, the U.S. Navy secured $88 million in supplemental funding to support testing and deployment of new C-UAS systems.
Maritime C-UAS Technologies: Full Speed Ahead
In general, navies have accelerated C-UAS development and procurement efforts, and U.S. efforts provide a good example of this. The USN now aims to create what one official referred to as a “nested layered defense” that both provides dedicated capabilities for defeating drones and fits within the current weapons and sensors architecture.
Specifically, the Navy has focused its efforts on developing a multi-tiered approach to counter different types of drones: long-range systems for larger drones (Group 3); medium-range systems for Group 2 and 3 drones; and short-range, high-capacity systems for smaller Group 1 and 2 drones. This layered strategy seeks to ensure comprehensive protection while preserving higher-end munitions for the significant threats for which they were made.
To implement this strategy, the Service continues to investigate various technologies to create the most effective C-UAS suite including:
- Missile-based systems: The goal here is to develop lower-cost, higher-capacity missiles specifically for drone threats.
- Gun-based systems: These would utilize guns for short-range, high-capacity engagements.
- Directed energy weapons: Lasers and high-powered microwaves could potentially serve as non-kinetic options.
New-generation counter-drone technology, based on radio frequency cyber (RF-cyber) takeover, which has been specifically tailored, could also overcome the hurdles of countering the increasing threat posed by commercial-off-the-shelf and do-it-yourself drones in the maritime setting. The ability to detect and mitigate, with full 360° coverage, these drones across all maritime environments, whether deployed on a small vessel or scaled up for larger platforms, with a compact and ruggedized system would be an addition in a layered defense at sea. (Learn more about one such solution, D-Fend Solutions’ EnforceAir, and its maritime capabilities and advantages, here in a recent Riviera Maritime article).
A Sea of Opportunities for Maritime C-UAS Systems
All maritime defense services face a complex and urgent challenge in developing effective afloat C-UAS capabilities. Some have chosen to double down on rapidly developing and fielding them by focusing on a few key areas:
- Accelerating the acquisition and testing process
- Collaborating with industry partners to develop innovative solutions
- Integrating C-UAS systems with existing ship defenses
- Balancing cost-effectiveness with performance
- Adapting land-based technologies for maritime use
By adopting a layered defense strategy, exploring new technologies such as RF-Cyber, and working closely with industry partners, naval services around the globe will undoubtedly continue to adapt and innovate in response to this emerging threat. The success of these efforts will play a crucial role in overall operational effectiveness and protecting valuable assets at sea and at home. The time is now to get maritime C-UAS systems in the hands of those who protect and defend us.