The US Army has issued a new task order to Leonardo DRS under an existing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide additional counter unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) platforms. The contract supports the US Army’s Integrated Fires/Rapid Capabilities Office’s on-going Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) programme. According to the Leonardo DRS press release, the company received approximately USD40,000,000 in October 2022, and on November 11, 2022, the company was awarded approximately USD20,000,000 through a modification contract.
M-LIDS allows soldiers to detect, identify, track and defeat small UAS with electronic warfare and kinetic defeat systems. The M-LIDS system includes a mix of kinetic defeat effectors including the XM914 (30mm) cannon hosted by the Moog Inc.’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret. This new task order requires DRS to deliver additional kinetic defeat vehicles and spares.
In March 2022, M-LIDS Increment 2 was identified as a US Army ACAT III program of record, and the US Army leadership directed accelerated deliveries of multiple C-UAS capabilities, including M-LIDS. The two-vehicle capability provides a balance of kinetic and non-kinetic defeat capabilities which have already completed extensive government testing. Several sets of M-LIDS Increment 2 are currently deployed overseas protecting US and allied forces.
The DRS Land Systems business unit serves as the lead systems integrator for this mobile C-UAS capability.
“Leonardo DRS is proud to be a member of the M-LIDS team, and we appreciate the opportunity to deliver additional vehicles. Drones have become a dangerous threat to our warfighters,” said Aaron Hankins, Senior Vice President and General Manager, DRS Land Systems. “Delivering M-LIDS vehicles remains one of our highest priorities, and we are excited about this new task order.”
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