Cyber Innovation Center selects vendor solution for countering small drones

By Sean Green | STRIKEWERX Communication Manager

BOSSIER CITY, La. — The Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) has found a partner to help protect Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) mobile assets against small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).

The CIC, AFGSC’s innovation partner, has contracted with Honeywell to produce a minimum viable prototype that will provide valuable information on countering sUAS (C-sUAS) while on the move.

Honeywell was selected from 22 entities via STRIKEWERX’s Mobile C-sUAS Swarming Defeat Challenge market research event.

“This challenge has informed us on the newest, most effective techniques to counter aerial drones,” said AFGSC Chief Scientist Dr. Donna Senft. “The results of this project will positively impact U.S. integrated deterrence by strengthening safety, security, and effectiveness.”

CIC President Kevin Nolten added, “Our market research uncovered a lot of great solutions, but the Honeywell proposal was the best integration of detection, cyber defeat, and kinetic defeat technology in a single package. I look forward to seeing what data we produce to inform how a moving prototype can defeat swarms of moving sUAS.”

Following a May 2023 STRIKEWERX workshop and an eight-week period that yielded 60 submissions, AFGSC evaluators identified the top 22 submissions. Virtual and in-person showcases in December 2023 saw AFGSC evaluators identified the best idea to potentially contract for the Mobile C-sUAS Swarm Defeat Challenge prototype.

About the Cyber Innovation Center

Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), located in Bossier City, Louisiana, is the anchor of the 3,000 acre National Cyber Research Park and serves as the catalyst for the development and expansion of a knowledge-based workforce throughout the region. As a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation, CIC fosters collaboration among its partners and accelerates technology, research, and development. One of its primary missions is to develop a sustainable knowledge-based workforce that can support the growing needs of government, industry, and academic partners.