V2X Tempest Showcases Mobile Counter-UAS with Dual Launchers at AUSA 2025

At the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., V2X presented its new Tempest mobile counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) platform. Designed for rapid deployment and layered drone defense, Tempest integrates dual launchers and a modular sensor suite to counter Group 1–3 UAS threats. The system reflects growing urgency across NATO and allied forces to field agile short-range air defense (SHORAD) solutions against proliferating drone threats on modern battlefields.

Tempest Platform Overview: Mobility Meets Modularity

The Tempest C-UAS solution is built on a modular architecture mounted atop a militarized Ford F-550 chassis. This choice ensures high mobility for expeditionary units while maintaining sufficient payload capacity for mission-critical systems. According to V2X representatives at AUSA 2025, the vehicle can be deployed by C-130 or equivalent tactical airlift platforms and is optimized for rapid setup in austere environments.

The core of Tempest’s design philosophy is modularity. The rear-mounted mission module houses two distinct kinetic effectors—each in its own launcher pod—alongside a mast-mounted sensor suite that includes radar and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems. This allows operators to tailor the system loadout based on threat environment or mission profile.

Dual Launcher Configuration Enables Layered Kinetic Response

Tempest’s standout feature is its dual-launcher configuration that enables simultaneous deployment of two different classes of interceptors:

Short-range interceptors: Designed to engage Group 1 and Group 2 drones (typically quadcopters or fixed-wing UAVs under ~25 kg), these munitions are likely low-cost missiles or proximity-fused rounds optimized for fast reaction time within visual range.
Medium-range interceptors: Intended for larger Group 3 drones or loitering munitions operating at higher altitudes or longer ranges. These may include small form-factor surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) such as APKWS II derivatives or similar guided rockets.

This dual-layer approach mirrors broader SHORAD trends seen in systems like Rheinmetall’s Skyranger or Leonardo’s DART-equipped turrets—combining rapid-fire guns with guided missiles to defeat diverse aerial threats.

Sensors and Targeting Suite: Multi-Domain Detection

The Tempest integrates a multi-sensor targeting suite mounted on an extendable mast. While exact specifications were not disclosed at AUSA, imagery and descriptions suggest a combination of:

X-band AESA radar: For detection and tracking of low-RCS targets such as commercial drones flying nap-of-the-earth profiles.
EO/IR turret: For day/night visual confirmation and passive tracking; likely equipped with laser rangefinding and auto-tracking capabilities.

This sensor fusion supports both autonomous engagement modes and operator-in-the-loop targeting workflows—critical for minimizing fratricide risk in cluttered electromagnetic environments. The system may also be Link-16 compatible or support other tactical data links for integration into wider C4ISR networks.

C-UAS Mission Set Expands Beyond Kinetics

While kinetic intercept remains central to Tempest’s concept of operations (CONOPS), V2X has indicated ongoing development efforts toward integrating non-kinetic effectors such as electronic warfare (EW) payloads. These could include GNSS jamming/spoofing modules or directed energy weapons in future variants.

This aligns with evolving doctrine that emphasizes layered C-UAS effects across detect-identify-track-defeat chains. In particular, combining soft-kill options with kinetic redundancy enhances magazine depth while reducing cost-per-engagement—vital when facing mass drone swarms or saturation attacks using low-cost FPV platforms like those seen in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict.

Tactical Role Within U.S. Army SHORAD Evolution

The Tempest enters a crowded but urgent procurement landscape as the U.S. Army accelerates its Maneuver SHORAD modernization efforts under programs like IFPC Inc 2-I and M-SHORAD Stryker variants. While those platforms focus on brigade-level protection using larger vehicles like Strykers armed with Stinger/HELLFIRE missiles or lasers, Tempest offers complementary capability at lower echelons—such as company-level force protection during dispersed operations.

Its lightweight footprint also makes it suitable for special operations forces (SOF), forward-operating bases (FOBs), convoy overwatch roles, or integration into expeditionary Marine Littoral Regiments where drone threats are increasingly prevalent across Indo-Pacific theaters.

Industry Context: V2X Expands Beyond Services into Systems Integration

The unveiling of Tempest signals V2X’s strategic pivot from primarily government services contracting into integrated systems development—a trend mirrored by other former services-focused firms seeking higher-margin product portfolios amid DoD modernization drives.

This move may position V2X as a niche player in rapidly growing C-UAS markets projected by Teal Group and Janes to exceed $10 billion globally by the end of this decade. However, competition remains fierce from established OEMs including Anduril Industries (Lattice + Anvil), SAIC’s DE M-SHORAD concepts, Raytheon’s KuRFS + Coyote ecosystem, and Israeli firms like Rafael with Drone Dome exports proliferating across Europe and Asia.

Outlook: From Demonstrator to Field Trials?

No formal acquisition path was announced at AUSA 2025; however, V2X officials confirmed discussions are underway with multiple U.S. military components regarding field evaluations in FY26 under Other Transaction Authority (OTA) mechanisms. Key next steps will likely include live-fire testing against representative UAV threats under operationally relevant conditions—including GPS-denied environments where autonomy becomes critical.

If successful in trials, Tempest could join a growing portfolio of agile C-UAS platforms designed not as silver bullets but as interoperable nodes within broader kill webs—a recognition that no single sensor-effector package can defend against all drone threats alone in today’s contested skies.