QinetiQ US has secured a $41m task order to bolster the US Army's defences against growing uncrewed aerial system (UAS) threats.
Under the three-year contract, the company will provide essential software and technology integration support for the Army's counter-UAS project, managed by the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center.
QinetiQ will help in advancing counter-UAS capabilities across various platforms, including fixed installations, vehicles, and mobile deployment systems.
The firm will support key aspects of the programme including development, testing, deployment and training, providing warfighters with critical sensor technologies needed to detect and track increasingly sophisticated drone threats.
QinetiQ US National & Global Security Solutions executive vice-president and general manager Jonathan Riksen said: “This task order reinforces QinetiQ US' role as a trusted technology partner in countering the rapidly evolving UAS threat landscape that challenges our warfighters.
"By developing advanced sensor technologies and data fusion capabilities for counter-UAS programmes, we're providing essential detection and tracking systems that form critical links in the counter-UAS kill chain.”
QinetiQ US said its advanced sensor and data fusion solutions are vital to layered counter-drone defence systems. These solutions facilitate precise threat identification, forming the intelligence backbone for effective neutralisation strategies.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is channelling resources into the protection of American troops and installations from drones. This initiative encompasses updates to military protocols, structural organization, and instructional programmes, according to a CRS report.
A spectrum of countermeasures is being developed and implemented, which includes the integration of air defence mechanisms and portable disruption devices.
The US Army has been designated as the lead branch within the DoD to oversee the strategy, development, and requisites for counter-UAS operations across the various military services.
Earlier in May 2025, QinetiQ US was selected by Integris Composites to contribute its systems engineering and integration expertise to the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) programme.
The company will employ its LAST Armor Integration solution, a lightweight, high-performance ballistic protection system suitable for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, to support the programme.
