At AUSA 2025 in Washington D.C., German startup ARX Robotics debuted a new variant of its Combat Gereon unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) equipped with the Dedrone Defender 2 system—a lightweight radio-frequency (RF) jammer designed to neutralize hostile drones. This pairing represents a modular and mobile counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capability optimized for forward-deployed units operating in drone-contested environments.
Combat Gereon UGV: Modular Platform for Tactical Autonomy
The Combat Gereon is the flagship tracked UGV from Munich-based ARX Robotics. Weighing approximately 500 kg and measuring under two meters in length, the platform is designed to support dismounted infantry and special operations forces by performing logistics resupply, ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), and now—counter-drone operations.
Key features of the Combat Gereon include:
- Payload capacity of up to 350 kg
- Modular top deck allowing rapid reconfiguration
- Autonomous navigation via GPS/INS and obstacle avoidance sensors
- Operational endurance of up to eight hours on battery-electric power
The platform’s low acoustic signature and compact profile make it suitable for urban or forested terrain. Its open architecture allows integration of third-party payloads such as remote weapon stations (RWS), EO/IR sensors, or electronic warfare modules. The new C-UAS configuration leverages this flexibility by mounting Dedrone’s RF effector directly onto the vehicle chassis.
Dedrone Defender 2: Lightweight RF Jammer Optimized for Mobility
The Defender 2 is a man-portable radio-frequency jammer developed by U.S.-based Dedrone. Introduced in late 2023 as an evolution of their earlier DroneDefender line—originally developed by Battelle—the Defender 2 weighs under seven kilograms and is designed for one-handed operation. It disrupts drone command-and-control links across common commercial frequencies including ISM bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz), GNSS signals (GPS/GLONASS/Galileo), and telemetry channels.
Key specifications include:
- Effective range up to ~1 km depending on environment
- Multi-band jamming across COTS drone frequencies
- No kinetic effect—non-destructive interdiction
- No export-controlled components; ITAR-free design
- Battery-powered with several hours operational runtime
The Defender 2 has been deployed by various NATO militaries in Ukraine and other conflict zones where small commercial drones are routinely weaponized or used for ISR. Mounting it on an autonomous UGV extends its coverage while reducing operator exposure to enemy fire or drone-delivered munitions.
C-UAS Integration Concept at AUSA Demonstration
The system showcased at AUSA featured the Combat Gereon carrying a stabilized mast-mounted version of the Defender 2 connected via a ruggedized control interface. According to ARX representatives at the event, operators can either manually engage targets via remote control or allow semi-autonomous operation using pre-defined threat profiles linked to sensor inputs such as radar or EO/IR feeds.
This integration enables several tactical advantages:
- Mobility: The platform can follow infantry patrols or secure perimeters without fixed infrastructure.
- Shooter-displacement: By placing jamming hardware away from personnel, adversaries cannot easily geolocate human operators based on RF emissions.
- Sustainability: Rechargeable batteries allow silent operation; swappable packs enable continuous missions.
- Crew safety: Operators remain under cover while engaging aerial threats remotely.
This concept aligns with NATO doctrine shifts toward distributed air defense layers that include soft-kill options against Group I–II drones (<20 kg). The platform could be deployed alongside SHORAD teams or integrated into maneuver formations where fixed C-UAS assets are impractical.
Tactical Implications in Drone-Saturated Battlefields
The proliferation of low-cost commercial UAVs—including FPV kamikaze drones—has dramatically altered battlefield dynamics in Ukraine and elsewhere. Front-line units now face persistent aerial surveillance and precision strike threats from quadcopters costing less than $1,000 USD. Traditional air defenses are too expensive or slow-reacting to address this saturation effectively.
This has driven demand for mobile soft-kill solutions that can accompany troops into contested zones without requiring complex logistics tails or high-value radars. By combining autonomy with RF denial capabilities in a compact form factor, the Combat Gereon + Defender combo offers a scalable response tailored to modern asymmetric threats.
If fielded widely across NATO formations—or licensed regionally—it could serve as an organic layer within battalion-level force protection architectures alongside radar cueing systems like RADA RPS-42 or Leonardo’s NERIO sensors.
Future Development Pathways and Export Potential
While no formal procurement contracts were announced at AUSA, both companies indicated ongoing trials with European armed forces—including Germany’s Bundeswehr—and interest from Baltic states seeking affordable C-UAS options. The modularity of the Combat Gereon allows rapid adaptation not only for jamming but also kinetic interceptors such as net guns or directed energy weapons if miniaturized sufficiently.
The integration also showcases how dual-use technologies from startups can be rapidly fielded when paired with agile platforms like unmanned ground vehicles. As drone threats evolve toward swarms and AI-guided loitering munitions, future iterations may incorporate sensor fusion (radar + EO + acoustic) along with AI-driven target classification engines running onboard NVIDIA Jetson-class processors embedded within the UGV chassis.
If successful in trials—and supported by NATO innovation funds—the concept could scale into platoon-level kits deployable across multiple theaters including Indo-Pacific littorals where small drones pose surveillance risks amid dense terrain clutter.
A Modular Template for Future Battlefield Autonomy
The pairing of ARX Robotics’ Combat Gereon UGV with Dedrone’s Defender 2 marks more than just another product demo—it reflects broader trends toward modular autonomy applied tactically at the edge. As militaries seek cost-effective ways to defend against ubiquitous aerial threats without overburdening soldiers or command bandwidth, such hybrid platforms offer promising templates for future battlefield ecosystems built around manned-unmanned teaming concepts.
