Defense firm BAE Systems has unveiled two complementary air defense technologies at AUSA 2026 to help the U.S. Army counter large-scale drone attacks. The systems use directed-energy and kinetic capabilities to engage unmanned aircraft and address evolving aerial threats.
According to the firm, the first system uses high-power microwave energy to disable drones without expending ammunition, and the second system relies on an artillery platform to launch precision-guided munitions against airborne and ground-based targets.
Source: BAE Systems
BAE Systems’ High Power Microwave (HPM) system uses electromagnetic energy to disable drone swarms and engage multiple threats in succession. Unlike conventional weapons, it does not require ammunition resupply and can continue operating as long as power remains available.
The second technology, the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS), is an air-transportable artillery platform designed to fire different precision-guided munitions according to mission requirements and target types. When engaging aerial threats, the system uses the Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP), which is a next-generation guided round, to intercept incoming targets.
MDACS also supports the Scorpio-XR precision-guided munition, which targets stationary and moving ground threats. BAE Systems said Scorpio-XR offers twice the range of existing precision-guided projectiles launched from 155 mm cannons.
BAE is positioning the two systems as elements of a layered defense. The high-power microwave weapon can engage drone formations, while MDACS provides a projectile-based option against aerial and ground threats. BAE suggests that combining directed energy with kinetic weapons could reduce ammunition consumption while preserving alternative engagement options for different targets.
