Rheinmetall Canada Demonstrates Ultra-Close Range Drone Defense Capabilities

(To Rheinmetall)
18/12/24

A Rheinmetall system for countering drones at ultra-close range has demonstrated its effectiveness during a joint exercise with representatives of the United States Army Central Command and the Saudi armed forces. The exercise Red Sands III took place in September 2024 at the Shamal 2 firing range in north-eastern Saudi Arabia and focused on countering unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).

The multinational exercise provided a challenging environment to evaluate C-UAS solutions while allowing technology developers and operations personnel to collaborate to address capability gaps. The exercise was preceded by successful qualification tests, conducted in the United States in the summer of 2024.

Designed as a last line of defense against small, low-altitude, high-speed drones, the system Ultra Short Range Air Defense from Rheinmetall offers an engagement range of 50 to 800 meters. The support platform is the Unmanned Ground System (UGS) Mission Master XT.

Developed by Rheinmetall Canada, the system includes the Rheinmetall Fieldranger Multi remotely operated weapon station with a twin Dillon Aero M134D machine gun, a radar, an electronic optical package and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based target acquisition and tracking system. This advanced layered defense system is capable of addressing multiple threats with high firepower. It offers multi-domain capabilities that stand out for their precision in detecting, tracking and engaging air and ground threats.

Rheinmetall's ultra SHORAD system mounted on the Mission Master XT

In the final stage of the Red Sands III, five challenging scenarios were set up to simulate real threats. In all scenarios, the participants' capabilities were tested against class 2 and 3 multirotor drones and class 3 fixed-wing aircraft. Rheinmetall's ultra SHORAD system demonstrated superior capabilities, hitting all drones and successfully neutralizing every multirotor drone on the first attempt. This result was matched only by Rheinmetall and participants equipped with expensive advanced missile systems.

Even in the extreme conditions of the Saudi desert, with temperatures reaching 45°C, Rheinmetall’s ultra SHORAD system stood out thanks to its rapid operational capability and resistance to interference, overheating and power outages. Previous exercises at Fort Drum, NY, USA, had already demonstrated the system’s resilience in high humidity and heavy rain. Another notable feature is the system’s AI tracker, which can detect and classify drones long before they engage, even in poor visibility or dusty conditions.

In addition to operational success, the Rheinmetall system has demonstrated high efficiency. With a low cost per engagement, it represents a sustainable and economical solution.

A reference point for the future development of C-UAS

The exercise – an example of the partnership between the Saudi armed forces and the United States Army Central Command – provided a valuable platform to evaluate and refine systems in real-world scenarios.

“We are proud to have played a critical role in improving operational readiness and fostering innovation to effectively counter emerging threats”, said Alain Tremblay, vice president of corporate development and innovation at Rheinmetall Canada.

Rheinmetall's performance at the Red Sands III underscores the company's leadership in delivering reliable, adaptable and cost-effective solutions that meet the evolving requirements of modern defense operations around the world.