U.S. Army Soldiers practice assembling the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defense System (M-LIDS) outside of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Jan. 22, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Damian Mioduszewski)

U.S. Army Taps Leonardo DRS to Provide Additional M-LIDS Counter-UAS Platforms

Leonardo DRS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRS) announced today it was awarded a contract to provide additional counter unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) platforms in support of U.S. Army’s Integrated Fires/Rapid Capabilities Office’s on-going Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) program.

On October 7, 2022, DRS received approximately $40 million and on November 11, 2022, the company was awarded approximately $20 million through a modification contract.

U.S. Army Soldiers practice assembling the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defense System (M-LIDS) outside of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Jan. 22, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Damian Mioduszewski)

Under the existing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, this new task order requires DRS to deliver additional kinetic defeat vehicles and spares. M-LIDS allows soldiers to detect, identify, track, and defeat small UAS with electronic warfare and kinetic defeat systems. The M-LIDS system includes a mix of kinetic defeat effectors including the XM914 (30mm) cannon hosted by the Moog Inc’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP ®) turret.

Leonardo DRS is proud to be a member of the M-LIDS team, and we appreciate the opportunity to deliver additional vehicles. Drones have become a dangerous threat to our warfighters. Delivering M-LIDS vehicles remains one of our highest priorities, and we are excited about this new task order.

Aaron Hankins, Senior Vice President and General Manager, DRS Land Systems

In March 2022, M-LIDS Increment 2 was identified as a U.S. Army ACAT III program of record, and the U.S. Army leadership directed accelerated deliveries of multiple C-UAS capabilities, including M-LIDS. The two-vehicle capability provides a balance of kinetic and non-kinetic defeat capabilities which have already completed extensive government testing. Several sets of M-LIDS Increment 2 are currently deployed overseas protecting U.S. and allied forces.

The DRS Land Systems business unit serves as the lead systems integrator for this mobile C-UAS capability.

The DRS Land Systems business is part of the company’s Integrated Mission Systems segment which provides force protection products and services including counter-unmanned aerial systems, short-range air defense systems, and active protection systems, across multiple platforms for the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.

Source: Leonardo DRS news release

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