Leonardo DRS has been awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling of 500 million dollars and a three-year period of performance by Joint Interagency Task Force 401, giving it the right to compete for orders to field counter drone sensing equipment to American forces, according to the company.
The arrangement covers the rapid delivery of integrated counter uncrewed aircraft system sensing capabilities supporting force protection and low altitude air defence, with task orders competed over the life of the contract.
John Baylouny, president and chief executive officer of Leonardo DRS, said: “Today’s threat environment is evolving faster than ever, and our customers need proven capabilities delivered at operational speed. This JIATF IDIQ positions DRS to accelerate the delivery of integrated C-UAS sensing technologies through rapid fielding of operationally relevant capabilities that help protect forces and strengthen low-altitude air defense as new threats emerge.”
Max Cohen, senior vice president and general manager at the Leonardo DRS RADA Technologies business unit, said: “Our counter UAS and air defense radars have demonstrated proven detection, tracking, and force protection performance in operational environments. We design, manufacture, and deliver combat-proven sensing systems at speed, and we’re ready now to support JIATF with mission-ready expeditionary radar capability that can be fielded rapidly as operational needs for C-UAS evolve.”
The award is one of ten made under an effort the American side calls Domestic Shield, aimed at protecting prioritised military facilities and assets inside the United States from drones. Combined ceilings across the ten run to roughly 4.15 billion dollars. Seven firms, including RADA Technologies, hold awards at the 500 million dollar level, alongside Allen Control Systems, Digital Force Technologies, DroneShield, Napatree Technology, SRC and L3Harris WESCAM. Echodyne and PVP Advanced EO Systems hold 250 million dollar awards and SmartShooter 150 million.
The task force is directed by Brigadier General Matt Ross. Brent Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, said the multi-vendor marketplace enforces strict open architecture standards, which is the mechanism intended to let new sensors and effectors be swapped in as the threat changes.
Orders under the arrangement have already started moving. SRC received a first delivery order worth 10.24 million dollars for one Gryphon R1440 and two R1540 radars with integration, installation, support and training.
RADA came to Leonardo DRS through the merger with the Israeli radar maker RADA Electronic Industries in 2021, and its compact active electronically scanned array radars are widely used for short range air defence and counter rocket, artillery and mortar work, including on American vehicle-mounted systems. Leonardo DRS is the American arm of the Italian group Leonardo and trades on Nasdaq.
