L3Harris Technologies and Shield AI have jointly tested an artificial intelligence–driven system aimed at detecting and countering hostile unmanned aerial systems (UAS). According to Shield AI, the demonstration highlighted how combining advanced sensors with AI software can help defense forces spot and track enemy drones more effectively.
The test took place during a Department of Defense Technology Readiness Experimentation event. L3Harris paired its WESCAM MX-Series electro-optical and infrared sensors with Shield AI’s Tracker counter-UAS software. The companies reported that the system successfully identified drones of different types under realistic conditions, including when visibility was reduced by obstacles or environmental factors.
Tom Kirkland, Vice President and General Manager of Targeting and Sensor Systems at L3Harris, explained that modern drone threats require faster and more precise defensive responses. He added that the collaboration with Shield AI boosts the performance of L3Harris’s sensors while improving safety for military personnel.
Christian Gutierrez, Vice President of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI, said adversaries are deploying drones in larger numbers, at lower cost, and in increasingly complex environments. He noted that tackling such challenges demands adaptive and intelligent technology, which this partnership is intended to deliver.
Looking ahead, the two companies plan to improve the system by refining airborne object behavior models to enhance detection and tracking across air, land, and maritime domains, both day and night. They also intend to integrate the technology with L3Harris’s VAMPIRE™ counter-UAS system, which is designed to address the threat of small drones.
