Leonardo DRS has placed a $350,000 order with Axon Vision for AI-based counter-UAS systems to support US defense and homeland security programs.
The initial delivery includes AI-enabled solutions capable of end-to-end aerial threat detection, classification, tracking, and engagement. The Axon Vision system responds to fast-moving targets in less than a second, combining autonomous perception and threat classification into a modular architecture for deployment on ground or maritime platforms, manned or unmanned.
Leonardo will integrate the systems into its mission and sensing portfolio, with operational trials and live exercises validating performance for counter-UAS and mobile force protection tasks. The exercises will also assess adaptability and operational readiness across multiple environments.
The order aligns with broader defense trends, as the US military and contractors increasingly embed AI into drone and counter-drone operations, following programs from Shield AI, Anduril Industries, Northrop Grumman, and RTX, which leverage machine learning, autonomy, and sensor fusion for enhanced threat detection and engagement.
