As small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) proliferate across conflict zones and gray-zone engagements, the U.S. military is intensifying efforts to develop agile countermeasures. The 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW), based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, plays a pivotal role in advancing expeditionary counter-drone capabilities through hands-on testing and operational experimentation.
621st CRW’s Role in Agile C-UAS Integration
The 621st CRW operates under the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center and specializes in rapid deployment and airbase opening operations. In recent years, its mission set has expanded to include support for emerging technology experimentation—particularly in the field of counter-small unmanned aerial systems (C-sUAS).
During a recent exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL), members of the 321st Contingency Response Squadron collaborated with various Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders to test next-generation C-sUAS systems. This included both kinetic interceptors and non-kinetic electronic warfare (EW) solutions designed for expeditionary environments.
The unit’s involvement reflects a broader shift within the DoD toward integrating C-UAS capabilities into base defense and force protection doctrine—especially as adversaries increasingly deploy commercial drones for ISR, loitering munition delivery, or electronic attack roles.
Operational Context: The Expanding Drone Threat
The threat posed by sUAS has evolved rapidly since their first notable battlefield use by non-state actors in Syria and Iraq circa 2014–2017. Today, both state and proxy forces employ drones for tactical reconnaissance, artillery spotting, GPS jamming/spoofing missions, and even direct kinetic strikes using improvised munitions or loitering platforms.
Recent conflicts—most notably Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—have demonstrated how even low-cost quadcopters can deliver outsized effects when networked with ISR assets or used en masse to overwhelm defenses. In response, NATO militaries are accelerating procurement of layered short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems that include C-UAS modules.
For expeditionary units like the 621st CRW that operate forward of main logistics hubs or airbases during initial entry operations, having organic or rapidly deployable C-UAS capability is critical for survivability.
Technology Demonstrations at JBMDL
The recent demonstrations at JBMDL included participation from multiple vendors under DoD rapid acquisition programs such as the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO). While specific systems remain undisclosed due to operational security constraints, open-source reporting suggests inclusion of:
- Portable EW jammers capable of disrupting GNSS signals or command-and-control links
- Directed energy prototypes using high-powered microwaves or lasers
- Kinetic interceptors such as net guns or low-cost missiles optimized for Group 1/2 drones
A key focus was on reducing system size-weight-power (SWaP) requirements to enable deployment by small teams without heavy logistical support. The CRW’s feedback loop allows developers to iterate on user interface design, power management solutions, and target acquisition algorithms based on real-world operator inputs.
Tactical Implications for Force Protection
C-UAS integration into force protection doctrine remains uneven across service branches. However, units like the 621st CRW are helping bridge this gap by validating Tactics, Techniques & Procedures (TTPs) under realistic field conditions. This includes:
- Rules of engagement for drone identification vs neutralization
- Integration with base security forces’ sensor networks
- Cueing from radar/EO-IR sensors into kill chains involving EW or kinetic effectors
The ability to rapidly detect-track-engage sUAS threats is increasingly seen as essential not only for fixed installations but also during airfield seizure operations—a core mission set for contingency response units.
Ties to Red Sands Experimentation Initiative and JCO Strategy
This effort aligns with broader DoD initiatives such as the Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center—a joint U.S.-Saudi project focused on testing directed energy weapons and integrated air/missile defense solutions against UAV threats in desert environments. Similarly, the JCO continues to refine a “system-of-systems” approach that blends sensors with effectors across multiple domains.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Air Combat Command (ACC), and other entities are working alongside units like the CRW to ensure that validated prototypes can transition quickly from experimentation into Programs of Record where appropriate.
Outlook: From Field Trials to Fielded Capability
The road from prototype demonstration to deployed capability remains challenging due to acquisition timelines, interoperability hurdles across services/NATO partners, and evolving threat profiles. However, efforts like those led by the 621st CRW represent crucial steps toward building an expeditionary C-UAS architecture that is modular, scalable—and most importantly—operator-informed.
As adversaries continue leveraging commercial drone tech in asymmetric ways—from ISR swarms over Taiwan Strait flashpoints to GPS spoofers along Eastern European borders—the need for agile countermeasures will only grow more urgent. Units capable of deploying early into contested environments must be equipped not just with mobility assets—but also digital survivability tools tailored against airborne robotic threats.
