The Army plans to test up to 15 new drone defense systems in Morocco next spring, with the goal of getting the top performers into soldiers’ hands within six months afterwards, Army officials told Task & Purpose.
The tests will focus on protecting temporary command posts and remote military positions from enemy drones, including small aircraft that can be difficult to detect when not transmitting radio signals.
An Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the military plans to test equipment that can detect and identify small, radio-silent drones from nearly a mile away, day or night.
The Army also wants systems capable of tracking large drones from 5 miles away and smaller ones from close to 2 miles.
The military plans to evaluate as many as 15 technologies, including equipment that detects approaching drones, weapons that physically destroy them, systems that disable without firing weapons, and protective measures designed to reduce the damage they can cause.
The tests come as Army officials warn that potential adversaries are finding new ways to use commercially available drones, creating additional challenges for troops operating in remote areas with limited communications infrastructure.
“Our adversaries are rapidly adapting commercial drones, and Africa’s dispersed, bandwidth-limited environment demands low-cost, scalable systems that work in degraded conditions,” an Army spokesperson told Task & Purpose.
The Army did not say if the planned tests are directly related to the ongoing conflict with Iran, but said its efforts to develop new military technology draw on lessons from different regions.
“Accelerated Capability Events draw cross-theater lessons and threat trends while remaining tailored to each geographical command’s priorities,” a spokesperson for the Army’s Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate said.
The Army will begin testing the equipment in February and March 2027 in Tan-Tan, Morocco, where the Army has said it plans to build a “drone academy” for regional allies. followed by additional evaluations in April and May during African Lion 2027, a major U.S.-led military exercise in Africa.
Officials said the 180-day timeline refers to getting approved equipment into soldiers’ hands after evaluation, rather than simply completing the testing process.
After the assessments, Army officials will review how the equipment performed and consider feedback from soldiers before deciding which technologies to purchase.
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