Drone defense? FN Herstal has a solution.

The remotely controlled weapon stations of the deFNder® Family from FN HERSTAL for combating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were tested during the NATO exercise "Non-Lethal Technology Exercise" (NNTEX-C), which took place from March 4 to 24 at PISC in Sardinia, Italy.

The exercise aimed to evaluate current technologies against low, slow, and small targets (LSS). For this purpose, FN Herstal developed a container-based perimeter defense solution that includes a range of sensors (RF sensors and radars) combined with a mix of soft and hard effectors.

The sensors provide early detection and deliver the location of identified targets on a 2D map to operators and commanders. This enhances the critical decision-making process and enables quick reaction and task assignment. The effectors include:

• Soft effector: To escalate forces, the setup also includes an intelligent and scalable signal jammer that can be used as a first response to the drone to disrupt the connection between the drone and its operator before resorting to lethal force.
• Hard effector:
  • A deFNder® Light Remote Weapon Station, which can be equipped with the FN MINIMI® 5.56 or 7.62 or FN MAG® 7.62mm caliber
  • A deFNder® Medium, which can be equipped with FN MAG® 7.62mm, .50 caliber weapons such as the FN® M2HB-QCB or FN® M3R, or a 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher with Airburst capability.

Once a target is identified, operators can select the threat to initiate the neutralization process. The overall system provides advanced features to assist operators in detecting and combating threats, including:

• Target tracking based on feedback from multiple sensors
• Collateral damage mitigation with fire readiness indicators
• Automatic detection through video streaming (day and infrared)
• Enhanced fire control for aiming from the air

The system utilizes FN Herstal's deFNder® Net technology and offers complete network capability for the distribution and exchange of information from any sensor to any operator, as well as to internal and external C2 systems. In conclusion, FN Herstal's perimeter defense system aims to enhance situational awareness while creating a secure environment for the crew.

FN HERSTAL Online