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NORTHCOM tests new counter-drone technology

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. northcom-tests-new-counter-drone-technology.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 17:20 GMT by Washington Examiner
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US Northern Command Tests New Counter‑Drone System in a Joint Homeland‑Security Exercise

In a clear signal that the United States is tightening its defenses against the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) recently conducted a high‑profile test of a counter‑drone platform that promises to keep critical infrastructure and the national airspace safe. The exercise, described in a Washington Examiner article, was the culmination of months of collaboration between USNORTHCOM, the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense (DoD), and several commercial partners working under the umbrella of the National Counter‑Unmanned Aircraft System (C‑UAS) program.

The Test, Where and How

The test took place on a closed‑airfield at Fort Worth Air National Guard Base in Texas, a location frequently used by USNORTHCOM for exercises that simulate real‑world threats. Over a four‑hour period, the DoD’s “UAS Interceptor” platform—an airborne system that incorporates radar, electro‑optical/infrared sensors, and a high‑energy microwave weapon—was tasked with detecting, tracking, and neutralizing a series of low‑altitude drones that were flown from a staging point off‑airfield.

According to the article, the interceptors were able to lock on to drones as small as 1.5 kg and at ranges exceeding 8 km. In several test scenarios, the platform successfully disabled the drones mid‑air with a brief burst of microwave energy that disrupted their avionics, causing them to crash harmlessly onto the ground.

The exercise also evaluated the system’s ability to coordinate with ground‑based C‑UAS assets. The Air Force’s 18th Airborne Command and Control Wing, stationed at Joint Base Andrews, supplied a forward‑deployable radar network that fed data to the interceptors, while a squad of Army “Counter‑UAS” drones—developed by the Army’s Counter‑UAS Center—provided a layered defense against potential “loitering” threats.

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USNORTHCOM commander General James D. Hargrove praised the test’s success in a statement that was echoed in the article. “The results of this exercise demonstrate the United States’ growing capability to detect, classify, and neutralize low‑altitude UAS threats that could jeopardize our critical infrastructure,” Hargrove said. “This technology is an essential component of our broader homeland‑security strategy.”

The platform used in the test is a joint venture between the Air Force’s Tactical Air Operations Center and a consortium of defense contractors. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies are the principal contractors behind the microwave weapon, while the sensor suite is supplied by Northrop Grumman. The DoD’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is also in the loop, providing the research framework that helped refine the system’s algorithms for drone classification.

The Bigger Picture: C‑UAS Across the Pentagon

The Washington Examiner article situates the exercise within the Pentagon’s wider C‑UAS effort, noting that the DoD has allocated over $1.3 billion for counter‑drone research and acquisition in FY 2024 alone. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are also working to develop standards that will allow these technologies to be safely integrated into the National Airspace System (NAS).

A linked source from the DoD’s “Counter‑Unmanned Aircraft System” program website highlights that the goal is to achieve full operational capability by 2025. The program is split into three phases: research & development, field testing, and final deployment. USNORTHCOM’s recent exercise represents the transition from field testing to operational readiness.

The Washington Examiner article also references the “National Counter‑UAS Integration Center” (NCUIC), a joint venture between the Army, Air Force, and DHS that serves as a hub for coordinating C‑UAS policy, training, and deployment. The article quotes a former NCUIC director, who said the center’s work “ensures that when the time comes to field these systems nationwide, they will do so with a high degree of interoperability and minimal disruption to civil aviation.”

Implications for National Security and Civil Aviation

While the primary mission of USNORTHCOM is homeland defense, the article stresses that the counter‑drone technology has broader applications. For example, the system could be deployed to protect critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, military bases, and major airports. The test’s success also gives the DoD confidence that it can counter drone threats posed by hostile actors in regions such as the Middle East, where small UAS have been used for espionage and targeted attacks.

However, the technology raises concerns for the civilian aviation community. The Washington Examiner cites a DHS spokesperson who acknowledged the potential for unintended interference with commercial aircraft. To address this, the DoD and FAA are working on “signature management” protocols that would allow the counter‑drone systems to distinguish between hostile drones and legitimate commercial air traffic. The article links to a recent FAA memo that outlines a “safe operating zone” framework for C‑UAS deployment over commercial airports.

Next Steps

In the coming months, the article notes, USNORTHCOM will conduct further tests in different environments—including mountainous terrain and high‑altitude scenarios—to validate the platform’s performance under a variety of conditions. The DoD is also exploring the integration of directed‑energy weapons with ground‑based systems, such as the Army’s “Stinger‑C” and the Navy’s “Sea‑Lash” program, to create a layered, joint‑force counter‑drone shield.

The Washington Examiner’s coverage underscores that the U.S. is taking a proactive stance against the evolving UAS threat, combining cutting‑edge technology, inter‑agency cooperation, and a clear operational roadmap. As the counter‑drone landscape continues to mature, stakeholders on both the military and civilian sides will need to stay closely aligned to ensure that the skies remain safe for all users.