MBDA showcased HELMA-P laser anti-drone system mounted on Arquus Sherpa armored vehicle.

As written by Joseph Roukoz in EDR Magazine, MBDA acts as the system integrator of Team Sky Warden, having understood since inception that a solution against UAS cannot be found using a single type of sensor or effector.
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Sky Warden anti-drone system mounted on a Sherpa 4×4 armored vehicle provided by Arquus (Picture source: MBDA/Laurent Guichardon)

Besides MBDA, Joseph Roukoz adds, Team Sky Warden includes CerbAir, a specialist in drone detection and neutralization, KEAS, specialized in jammers, Cilas, active in the laser domain, Teledyne e2v, specialized in RF technologies with its Safe Stop Air capable to stop a UAV at 400 meters distance of using a 1m² antenna, Saab with its Giraffe G1X radar, and Openworks providing its SkyWall net-based system for capturing drones. As for MBDA, the company provides the Licorne command and control system, a remote electro-optical sensor, a hard kill drone which details were not unveiled, and the Mistral VSHORAD surface-to-air missile system.

One of the anti-drone systems mounted on the Arquus Sherpa, the HELMA-P laser effector designed and manufactured by CILAS (Ariane Group) is a response to the threat posed by UAVs and in particular mini-UAVs. Its mission will be to secure operations on national territory during events and to support external operations by identifying, tracking and neutralizing the fixed or agile threat.

In mid-October 2020, HELMA-P was convinced from the very first shots with its precision, efficiency and ability to neutralize in-flight targets up to one kilometer away in a matter of seconds. All firings systematically destroyed UAVs capable of speeds above 50 km/h and in difficult target tracking conditions.

HELMA-P provides operational units and internal security forces with a new weapon with a technological breakthrough. Effective at greater distances and providing a radical effect, HELMA-P can support other anti-UAV technologies. HELMA-P is therefore the ultimate neutralization solution.

These first tests at Biscarrosse are a success and must be continued in order to fully characterize the performance of the effector, particularly in terms of range and according to different operational scenarios. HELMA-P can be used, for example :
• in the field of UAV control for the protection of sensitive civil or military sites and convoys;
• against improvised explosive devices by neutralizing explosives or destroying electronics ;
• in the context of preparing operations, neutralizing light sensors, camera jamming or even de-camouflaging.

In addition to UAV combat, HELMA-P provides considerable operational gains in air-land combat.
The laser effector is capable of damaging the defense and reaction potential of the enemy before an action. HELMA-P is therefore also a system to support the engagement of forces.

HELMA-P laser effector designed and manufactured by CILAS (Ariane Group) (Picture source: CILAS)

In mid-October 2020, HELMA-P was convinced from the very first shots with its precision, efficiency and ability to neutralize in-flight targets up to 1km away in a matter of seconds (Picture source: CILAS)