Leonardo Validates Autonomous Maritime System to Shield Naval Platforms from Drone Threats.

According to information published by Leonardo DRS on August 12, 2025, the company has successfully conducted the first open-water trials of its Counter-Unmanned Aerial System Maritime Mission Equipment Package engineered for deployment on small uncrewed surface vessels. The live demonstration represents a significant advance in maritime autonomous defense, integrating scalable, AI-driven counter-drone capabilities that extend protection envelopes for naval fleets operating in both congested littoral zones and expansive open-sea theaters.
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This new AI powered maritime counter drone system detects tracks and neutralizes aerial threats using modular kinetic and non kinetic effectors on uncrewed surface vessels (Picture source : Leonardo).

The Maritime Mission Equipment Package, or MEP, is built upon a modular open systems architecture derived from Leonardo DRS’s land-based mobile short-range air defense and counter-UAS solutions. The maritime adaptation is specifically engineered to counter the growing aerial threat posed by hostile drones operating from surface, subsurface, or land-based launch points against naval assets. In the August trials, conducted under realistic sea state and environmental conditions, the MEP executed a full kill chain sequence against simulated aerial targets, beginning with early signal detection and progressing through identification, tracking, classification, and engagement coordination, all while maintaining concurrent maritime surface situational awareness.

The sensor architecture integrates the BlackLab passive radio-frequency detection system, capable of identifying and geolocating hostile unmanned aerial systems by detecting their control and telemetry signals across multiple frequency bands. This passive approach allows early warning without emitting detectable signatures, a key advantage in contested electromagnetic environments. Complementing BlackLab is the STAG electro-optic/infrared gimbal, fitted with high-resolution day cameras and advanced cooled thermal imaging sensors optimized for maritime operations. The STAG gimbal provides precision visual tracking and targeting capability, even against low-observable drone profiles or in adverse weather conditions.

All sensor data is processed through Leonardo DRS’s proprietary AI-enabled sensor fusion core, a tactical command-and-control module that cross-correlates RF detection, optical imagery, and infrared signatures to produce high-confidence threat classifications. This AI engine employs machine learning algorithms trained on extensive libraries of drone and aerial vehicle profiles, enabling rapid distinction between commercial UAVs, military-grade threats, and non-hostile air contacts. The system architecture supports data sharing with other naval platforms via secure tactical datalinks, ensuring that detections on one vessel can trigger alerts across an entire task force.

The open architecture design supports mission-specific payload integration, enabling both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures. Non-kinetic options include directional RF jamming systems, GPS spoofing modules, and next-generation 4G/5G electronic warfare payloads capable of severing drone control links or disrupting navigation systems. For hard-kill engagements, the MEP can be fitted with compact missile launchers or projectile-based interceptors scaled for USV platforms. This versatility allows the same USV to serve in multiple mission profiles, from point defense of high-value units to perimeter security in expeditionary operations.

Potential clients for this capability include naval forces of advanced maritime nations seeking to expand their uncrewed fleet capabilities, such as the United States Navy, the Royal Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and NATO member states operating in high-threat littoral regions. Emerging naval powers in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, where drone proliferation is accelerating, could also benefit from integrating this solution into fast patrol craft, offshore security vessels, or dedicated USV flotillas. The system’s modularity and scalability make it equally attractive to coast guards and maritime security agencies tasked with protecting critical sea lanes, offshore infrastructure, and strategic choke points.

From an operational and tactical perspective, the MEP-equipped USV could serve as an autonomous forward-deployed early warning node, detecting incoming aerial threats at range and cueing defensive fire from larger manned ships. In littoral environments, these platforms can operate in swarms or dispersed formations to create overlapping layers of surveillance and engagement capability, effectively denying enemy UAVs the ability to approach undetected. During convoy escort missions, a small number of USVs equipped with the MEP could patrol the outer security perimeter, neutralizing aerial reconnaissance or loitering munitions before they threaten the main formation. This distributed defense model not only enhances survivability but also forces adversaries to expend greater resources in overcoming multiple autonomous defensive layers.

By hosting the C-UAS MEP on small uncrewed surface vessels, naval forces can extend their defensive reach while reducing risk to human crews. USVs equipped with the package can patrol beyond the main fleet perimeter, functioning as distributed sensor and interceptor nodes. This aligns directly with the US Navy’s distributed maritime operations doctrine, where force elements are dispersed across a wider battlespace to enhance survivability and maintain persistent surveillance. The autonomous-ready design enables both direct operator control and AI-supervised autonomous patrols, supporting sustained operations in high-threat zones without fatigue limitations inherent to manned watchstanding.

The successful demonstration not only validates the MEP’s maritime integration but also confirms the adaptability of Leonardo DRS’s land-proven counter-drone technologies to complex naval environments. Saltwater-resistant enclosures, shock-isolated electronics mounts, and enhanced cooling systems have been incorporated to ensure reliability in continuous maritime service. This robust engineering positions the MEP as a mission-ready solution capable of operating from fast attack craft, offshore patrol vessels, or unmanned flotillas supporting carrier strike groups.

As drone technology continues to proliferate among both state adversaries and non-state actors, the ability to detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats before they can close within weapons release range is becoming a defining factor in naval survivability. With its AI-driven sensor fusion, modularity, and uncrewed platform compatibility, the Leonardo DRS Maritime Mission Equipment Package offers a next-generation answer to this evolving challenge, setting a new benchmark for USV-based fleet protection in multi-domain warfare.