Plextek wins DASA contract for anti-drone technology

Air November 10, 2019

Cambridge-based company Plextek has been awarded two contracts for anti-drone technology as part of a DASA competition.

The company has been awarded two contracts under the DASA anti-drone competition, seeking technology capable of defeating, detecting, and disrupting the hostile use of drones. The contracts make use of the company’s Low Size Weight and Power (SWaP) radio systems.

One contract will look at the development of signal detection and jamming capability. This will leave non-hostile networks unaffected, defeating and detecting hostile drones.

Head of Technology at Plextek-DTS Dr Aled Catherall said: “Drones are increasingly being used to conduct hostile activities due to their relatively low cost, ease of deployment and lack of technologies to adequately counter them.”

“The threat posed is advancing rapidly and drones are being used effectively against military targets and to disrupt critical national infrastructure. New technologies to counter the drone threat is therefore required and the two projects awarded to Plextek-DTS will help to provide a significant step towards achieving an effective counter-drone capability.”

For the second project, Plextek-DTS will develop a miniature radar that can be integrated into airborne drones in order to detect, track and accurately target hostile drones. The competition is part of DASA’s ongoing research into countering UAS’s.

Plextek was created to help defence suppliers, military stakeholders, and government agencies to access technology exploitation paths to help UK armed forces. The company provides products, services, and systems as well as design partner services, and specialist R&D support such as systems manufacture and supply services through Plextek DTS, a business unit of Plextek.

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Business contracts counter drone DASA Drone Plextek radio