US Air Force Tests Layered AI and Kinetic Drone Defenses

The United States Air Force recently conducted a training exercise through its 31st Air Task Force to validate a layered defense strategy against small uncrewed aerial systems. The strategy integrates artificial intelligence to detect and filter non-threats, electronic warfare to disrupt drone signals, and kinetic weapons, specifically shotguns, as a final line of defense.

During the exercise, airmen tracked high-speed drones that mimicked hostile flight patterns to refine tactics and procedures. This training is part of a broader military effort to develop a diverse set of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities to counter evolving drone threats.

To support these efforts, a Pentagon-led counter-drone task force launched an online catalog. This system allows military, federal government, and law enforcement personnel to request validated counter-UAS tools, ranging from signal jammers to kinetic weaponry, to streamline the acquisition process.