Enforce Tac: Diehl Defence unveils Kinetic Defence Vehicle

Diehl Defence will be presenting a vehicle-based drone defense system called the Kinetic Defence Vehicle, at the Enforce Tac 2025 trade fair from the 24th to the 26th of February in Germany. This is according to a 21st February post by the company on LinkedIn.

The company has already delivered a similar system to the Ukrainian armed forces, but the Kinetic Defence Vehicle presented at Enforce Tac will have several modifications in the areas of sensors, effects and automation. Many details – apart from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) from Walaris – are not revealed in the article. However, by analysing the image we can identify a number of the vehicle’s systems. 

The basic platform for the further developed Kinetic Defense Vehicle is based on the Enok AB from ACS Armoured Car Systems GmbH, and provided integrated sensor technology, which consists of a radar from the US manufacturer Echodyne and an optical detection system from Diehl. The optics package consists of several cameras, which, depending on the configuration, enable passive detection of drones in a sector of 120 to 360 degrees. The real-time images are constantly evaluated and approaching drones and loitering ammunition are recognized as a contrast to the background. Once detected, the radar is used to determine the flight speed of the threat and thus calculate a corresponding lead mark for the weapon.

Enhanced lethality

According to well-informed sources, the configuration delivered to Ukraine is a system with a remote-controlled, stabilized R400 weapon station from the Australian manufacturer Electro Optic Systems (EOS) – represented in Europe by Diehl Defence – which is armed with an M134D minigun in 7.62 x 51 mm caliber. A weather sensor integrated into the weapon station increases the precision of the weapon’s use at longer distances. The combat range of this configuration is said to be 1,000 to 1,200 meters, depending on the reconnaissance range (size of the drone) and the length of the burst of fire.

As can be seen in the picture that has now been published, Diehl is now showing the Kinetic Defence Vehicle with a new weapon. The weapon used on the R400 weapon station is the electrically powered machine gun type 503D chambered to fire 12.7 mm x 99 (.50 BMG) ammunition. This machine gun, which weighs around 41 kg, is sold by Dillon Europe, a subsidiary of the US company Dillon Aero.

The 503D – the 50 stands for caliber 50, the 3 for the number of barrels and the D for Dillon – has a rate of fire of 1,500 rounds per minute. Many components are similar to those of the M134D, which was introduced into the German army as the MG6. The operating and maintenance concept is also the same.

However, the 503D offers significantly more impact. Depending on the size of the drone or the reconnaissance performance of the optronics and the length of the bursts, the weapon can effectively engage targets at a distance of up to 2,000 m. The calibre also offers a wider range of ammunition. In contrast to the 7.62 x 51 mm caliber, HE projectiles with impact fuses are also available for the .50.

A smarter solution

Another innovation is the integration of an additional sensor mast at the rear of the vehicle. The provider is the German-American AI defense company Walaris. The company announced that it wanted to show exactly this sensor technology configured for drone defence at the Enforce Tac 2025, on the 19th February. The same sensors can be seen in the image that has now been published: the Vision Flex camera system from OpenWorks in conjunction with the EchoGuard radar system from Echodyne. According to the LinkedIn post, the intelligence is provided by Walaris. This is likely to be the AI ​​software AirScout.

The core of AirScout is a proprietary neural network trained by Walaris, which enables reliable detection and classification of drone targets. According to Walaris, the software enables the fusion of a large number of sensors, which makes it possible to adapt the system modularly to different threat scenarios.

The sensor package should make it possible to detect drones – although Walaris does not mention the size of the drones – both during the day and at night at a distance of up to 1,500 metres. The classification distance is given as 550 metres. The sensor package is integrated on a mast system from ACS Armoured Car Systems. This is a telescopic mast with a length of 4 m, which was shown publicly for the first time at the 9th KSK Armament Symposium in September 2024.

Depending on requirements, the mast can be integrated on the side of the rear pillar or at the rear of the vehicle. According to previous statements from ACS, it is also possible to use it on a tripod. The highlight of the rotating mast, which ACS says was developed based on a customer requirement, is the leveling unit which allows the mast to be used vertically regardless of the slope or incline of the vehicle. The integrated sensor unit can therefore always be extended vertically to its full height, regardless of the current position of the vehicle. The head load is specified as 25 kg.

Hartpunkt’s sources indicate that the modified Kinetic Defence Vehicle will have a network between the sensors and the effects system, so that targets detected by the sensor tower will be automatically transferred to the weapon station, which will be aimed at the target without the operator having to do anything. The operator will then be responsible for approving the use of the weapon.

Evaluation

The presentation of the vehicle indicates that Diehl Defence wants to offer a highly automated mobile drone defense solution for tactical use below short and very close range protection with the modular approach of the Kinetic Defence Vehicle. The Kinetic Defence Vehicle is likely to be priced significantly below conventional air defence solutions, so that it could take on a role as a “mass-market” drone defence solution.

This article, written by Waldemar Geiger was originally published in German by Hartpunkt on 21st February 2025. Hartpunkt and Calibre are collaborating to bring you the best content from across Europe.