Spanish Army Deploys Cervus Anti-Drone System during NATO Mission in Slovakia.

The Spanish Army has deployed the Cervus anti-drone system, designed by the Spanish defense industry, as part of the NATO mission in Slovakia, under the command of the Parachute Brigade (Bripac). This technology, initially developed within the 31st Electronic Warfare Regiment (REW), is currently in service with the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command (MAAA). Since mid-2023, the Army has been equipped with the most advanced version of the system, Cervus III.
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During its current deployment in Slovakia, images provided by the NATO mission suggest that the Army has used a version of the Cervus without the Guardian 2.0 turret. (Picture source: NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Slovakia)

The Cervus system is designed to protect airspace and ensure the security of critical installations, both civilian and military, against potential drone attacks. In its latest version, the Cervus III integrates a command and control system that, through artificial intelligence, merges data from various sensors: radars, cameras, radio frequency antennas, and a jammer. It also includes a Guardian remote-controlled turret equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun, offering direct neutralization capabilities (hard kill). The entire system is controlled by an operator through a simple interface, facilitating the operation of sensors and real-time decision-making.

The Cervus system, fully designed and manufactured in Spain, aims to protect airspace and ensure the security of strategic sites, whether civilian or military, from potential drone attacks. This new version marks a real turning point compared to the previous platform, with a complete system overhaul. The numerous improvements, starting with a command and control interface that centralizes all sensors into a single graphical display, allow for simplified management of all functionalities.

This new system also incorporates radio frequency detection devices developed by TRC, expanding the analyzed spectrum, as well as a high-performance electro-optical module, the Oteos, developed in collaboration with Escribano. Thanks to TRC's artificial vision algorithms and Escribano's sensor, the system autonomously detects drones and precisely geolocates them using specially trained artificial intelligence models. Additionally, radars can be integrated to extend the system's range and improve the precision of threat localization. The Cervus is also equipped with hardkill capabilities to neutralize unwanted drones through the Guardian 2.0 remote station, whose effectiveness was demonstrated in recent tests in Spain. These advancements enable automatic detection of potential threats without requiring operators to have extensive radio frequency knowledge, simplifying the system’s use and facilitating its deployment to address current air security needs.

Although its primary objective is detecting and neutralizing drones, the Cervus system can also identify and track ground movements, such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). This project was made possible through collaboration with several Spanish defense companies, including Grupo TRC, the program's integrator, Escribano with its Oteos electro-optical system and the remote-controlled turret, ART responsible for the radar, Hispamast for the mast, and ATL for the jammer.

The system stands out for its range: the Oteos camera has a range of up to 20 kilometers, while the radar can detect targets at a distance of five to 10 kilometers. It also features sectorial radio frequency antennas to locate threats and an intelligent jamming system capable of countering multiple drones through a unidirectional antenna that creates a protection bubble around the vehicle.

Among its advanced features, the Cervus includes a captive drone that can be deployed up to 100 meters above the vehicle, providing an extended field of view. This drone is controlled via a computerized system, avoiding the use of radio frequencies, and making it less vulnerable to interference. If necessary, the remote-controlled turret provides a lethal response to threats. These systems are mounted on the Vamtac ST5 tactical vehicle.

During its current deployment in Slovakia, images provided by the NATO mission suggest that the Army has used a version of the Cervus without the Guardian 2.0 turret. This is not the first time this system has been deployed abroad; earlier versions have already been used in operations in Latvia and Mali.