Defence in brief: Allen-Vanguard teams with Metis Aerospace to counter drones

The two companies are working together to combine Allen-Vanguard’s counter radio frequency (RF) capabilities with Metis’s RF detection expertise to develop a mobile counter-drone system.The teaming has been announced in response to the growing market demand for mobile counter drone systems. A lot of responses to date have involved static defence against small drones, often blending a mixture of detection and engagement methodologies. However, greater proliferation of drones – especially those that are controlled from a first person view – has led to innovation and the more effective use of them against moving vehicles. This makes solutions that can act against drones from a vehicle on the move a desirable, even necessary capability. 

Allen-Vanguard has developed a range of counter-drone products including the man-portable Scorpion system, which is also effective against radio controlled IEDs, and the Ancile vehicle/convoy protection system. Metis designs and builds the Skyperion passive RF detection systems, which works by analysing the RF signals in a given area and helping the user understand what types of drone are likely nearby as well as providing a bearing for detected drones.