U.S. Marine Corps expands mobile counter-drone capabilities

The U.S. Marine Corps is advancing its mobile counter-drone capabilities through two distinct technological programs. Under the Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire (DASH) program, the service has awarded a $19,062,156 contract to Vertex Modernization and Sustainment for 10 Tempest counter-drone vehicles. These vehicles, built on a Can-Am Maverick X3 chassis, utilize dual missile launchers and radar to detect and engage Class 2 and Class 3 drones. This initial order represents one-fifth of the 50 systems the service originally intended to procure.

Simultaneously, the Marine Corps is pursuing the High-power Microwave Autonomous Vehicle Operational Capability (HAVOC) program. An $11 million contract with Epirus aims to provide a vehicle-mounted high-power microwave weapon. Unlike missile-based systems, HAVOC uses microwave energy to disrupt the electronic components of multiple drones simultaneously, offering a solution to counter mass UAV swarms. The HAVOC system is expected to be delivered in early 2027.