Leonardo DRS has emerged as the top performer in the U.S. Department of Defense’s 2025 Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) competition, showcasing a kinetic defeat solution integrated on a Moog Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret. The win highlights Leonardo DRS’s growing role in short-range air defense (SHORAD) and counter-drone capabilities amid evolving aerial threats from Group 1–3 drones.
DoD Counter-UAS Competition Overview
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), under Army leadership, hosted its annual C-sUAS Operational Assessment at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona earlier this year. The event is designed to evaluate emerging technologies capable of defeating small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), particularly Groups 1 through 3 — typically ranging from commercial quadcopters to larger tactical drones weighing up to ~600 kg.
The 2025 competition focused on kinetic defeat systems — direct physical engagement methods such as guns or missiles — as opposed to non-kinetic options like jamming or directed energy. Participating vendors were evaluated across several criteria including:
- Detection and tracking accuracy
- Engagement reliability and kill probability
- Integration with existing command-and-control (C2) architectures
- Mobility and deployment time
This year’s assessment featured a mix of legacy platforms and new entrants offering modular solutions for mobile SHORAD units and fixed-site defense.
Leonardo DRS System Details: RIwP Integration and Kinetic Kill Chain
Leonardo DRS fielded a kinetic defeat solution mounted on the Moog RIwP turret — a modular remote weapon station capable of integrating various effectors including cannons, missiles, and sensors. The company’s configuration reportedly included:
- A 30mm XM914 Bushmaster chain gun with airburst munitions
- An integrated electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor suite for target acquisition
- CUEing from radar feeds via an open architecture interface compatible with Army C2 systems like FAADC2 or ATAK
- Optional Stinger missile pods for layered defense against faster targets
The system demonstrated high hit probability against maneuvering Group 1–3 drones during live-fire trials at Yuma. According to JCO officials quoted by Breaking Defense and Defense News, Leonardo DRS achieved “the highest overall score” among competing vendors.
Tactical Implications for U.S. Army SHORAD Forces
The success of Leonardo DRS’s solution aligns closely with ongoing modernization efforts within U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery units. The Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) program — currently fielded in limited numbers — relies on similar modular turrets mounted on Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles (MATVs).
If adopted more broadly, Leonardo DRS’s system could serve as an upgrade path or complementary capability within M-LIDS Increment 2 or future Stryker-based SHORAD platforms alongside the IM-SHORAD program.
Key operational benefits include:
- Scalable lethality across drone classes via programmable airburst rounds
- Simplified logistics through common turret architecture with other Army platforms
- Rapid target handoff via networked sensors using Link-16/STANAG protocols
- Potential for integration into NATO-aligned C-sUAS frameworks under DIANA initiatives or European Sky Shield programs
Industry Positioning and Competitive Landscape
This win strengthens Leonardo DRS’s position in the rapidly growing global counter-drone market — forecasted by MarketsandMarkets to exceed $6 billion by 2030. It also places pressure on rival integrators such as Northrop Grumman (XM914-based M-SHORAD), Anduril Industries (Lattice OS + counter-drone effectors), and RTX/Raytheon Technologies (Coyote Block II interceptors).
The use of mature components like the XM914 gun system — already in service with IM-SHORAD units — gives Leonardo DRS an advantage in terms of acquisition speed and sustainment compatibility.
The company has also been investing heavily in open architecture solutions aligned with DoD Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) standards, enabling faster integration cycles across multiple platforms.
Next Steps: Procurement Pathways and Fielding Prospects
The JCO competition does not automatically result in procurement contracts but serves as a key validation step ahead of potential downselects for Programs of Record or urgent operational needs statements (ONS). According to DoD sources familiar with past assessments:
- Top performers are often invited for follow-on testing under Rapid Capabilities & Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO)
- SOCOM and CENTCOM have historically fast-tracked fielding based on Yuma results via Other Transaction Authority (OTA)
- NATO allies may adopt similar configurations through Foreign Military Sales channels if interoperability is demonstrated
No formal contract awards have been announced yet following the 2025 competition; however, industry observers expect movement before FY26 budgeting finalizations.
Conclusion: A Milestone Win Amid Escalating Drone Threats
The proliferation of low-cost drones across global conflict zones—from Ukraine to Yemen—has elevated counter-UAS capabilities from niche concerns to strategic imperatives. Leonardo DRS’s first-place finish at this year’s DoD assessment signals that kinetic defeat remains a viable frontline option when paired with advanced sensors and open architecture integration.
If selected for broader fielding, this system could become a mainstay component within layered air defense architectures defending forward-operating bases, convoys, or critical infrastructure against swarming drone attacks.
