Rheinmetall Defence Australia and Australian company Praetorian Aeronautics have delivered a prototype of AERIE, a containerised counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) developed through a 12-month research and development partnership.
The AERIE system is designed as a mobile, self-contained C-UAS launcher that can accommodate more than 20 interceptors inside a 20-foot ISO shipping container. The system is designed to be rapidly deployed and reloaded and is described by the companies as interceptor-agnostic.
The demonstrator incorporates Praetorian Aeronautics’ Arrow autonomous interceptor and Hadrian command-and-control (C2) system, both developed in Australia. Arrow is designed to provide high-speed kinetic interception of multiple uncrewed systems beyond visual range, while Hadrian provides AI-enhanced C2 for autonomous effectors across air, land and maritime domains.
The AERIE system is scheduled to move to full operator demonstrations in the fourth quarter of 2026.
For more information
Image: The Hon Chris Picton MP, South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Brett Hill, CEO Praetorian Aeronautics, Nathan Poyner, MD Rheinmetall Defence Australia, LTGEN Rick Burr (Retd), Chair Defence SA Advisory Board (Credit: Rheinmetall)
The September issue of the 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now available. The guide is the world’s only comprehensive, continually updated directory of global C-UAS companies and systems. It itemises over 1,000 C-UAS products and services with performance details, company sales and partnerships arrangements. It is updated every month and broken down into niche sub-sectors (net-capture, missiles, intercept drones, detectors etc) to give C-UAS procurement and industry personnel a unique perspective of global C-UAS technical capabilities and market positions. It is available in word, PDF and excel formats and Unmanned Airspace readers are eligible for a range of discounts. For more information about the Directory please contact the editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.