American Rheinmetall tests drone hunter vehicle

American Rheinmetall recently demonstrated its Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (counter-UAS) Ultra-Short Range Air Defense solution during a live-fire event at Big Sandy Range, where the system was tested against small drone targets.

The demonstration included the integration of the remote weapon station onto GM Defense’s Infantry Squad Vehicle-C (ISV-C) platform.

According to information released by American Rheinmetall, the live-fire testing validated the system’s integration with the ISV-C tactical vehicle, a lightweight and mobile platform designed to support rapid maneuver operations. The demonstration showed the vehicle-mounted system detecting and engaging aerial targets in a controlled range environment.

During the event, the system successfully engaged both fixed-wing and rotary-wing small unmanned aerial system targets, demonstrating its ability to counter multiple drone types commonly used for reconnaissance or attack missions.

American Rheinmetall stated that the testing also evaluated the system’s average cost-per-kill performance, a metric used to measure the economic efficiency of counter-drone weapons when intercepting low-cost aerial threats. The company noted that the live-fire trials helped confirm the system’s readiness for further experimentation in an upcoming U.S. Army evaluation event. The system will next participate in the Concept Focused Warfighting Experimentation – Cross Domain Fires (CFWE-CDF) event scheduled to take place at Fort Sill.

The company described the platform as a remote weapon station designed for counter-UAS missions, capable of operating autonomously as a last-line defensive layer against drones approaching friendly forces or critical infrastructure. The system is intended to deliver a platform-agnostic, autonomous capability, allowing it to be integrated onto various vehicles or installations depending on operational requirements.

Remote weapon stations of this type typically combine sensors, targeting software, and automated firing systems to detect and engage small aerial targets at short range.

Ultra-Short Range Air Defense systems, often referred to as U-SHORAD, are designed to defend units and facilities against drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft that operate below the coverage envelope of larger air defense systems.

Unlike long-range missile systems, U-SHORAD solutions are optimized for mobility and rapid deployment, allowing them to accompany maneuver units or protect forward operating locations.

Modern counter-UAS systems frequently incorporate automated target recognition and tracking technologies that allow the system to engage threats quickly once detected.

Such capabilities are intended to address the increasing speed and volume of drone attacks observed in recent conflicts, where low-cost unmanned aircraft are used for surveillance, targeting, and direct strikes.

The integration with the ISV-C platform demonstrates a concept where counter-drone defenses can be deployed on highly mobile vehicles capable of moving with infantry units in dynamic operational environments.

The ISV-C vehicle developed by GM Defense is derived from the Infantry Squad Vehicle family used by the U.S. Army. These vehicles are designed to transport soldiers rapidly across terrain while maintaining a small logistical footprint.