Liteye Systems has announced the launch of the Liteye SHIELD, their next generation counter drone system.

In the military context, the threats from small UAS and commercial drones are evolving worldwide.  Federal agencies now must defend borders against smugglers and protect military and infrastructure targets from drone attacks.  There are numerous reports that hostile forces around the world are weaponizing small drones or equipping them with explosives in order to damage manned aircraft or other targets.

It’s not enough for forces to protect themselves only from drone strikes, however – threats may appear from anywhere.  The Liteye SHIELD is designed to mitigate drone threats by finding, detecting, and mitigating unauthorized drones in the airspace – while also protecting sites from ground – based attacks.  Most importantly, the new product has increased response speeds, so that users can react in real time.

“Liteye SHIELD incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning techniques with a newly designed SPYGLASS™ 3D radar, EO and IR tracking to increase the speed and confidence of the system.   The SHIELD Command and Control further ensures the full Detect, Track, ID Kill Chain is automated and conducted at machine speed,” says a Liteye press release.

“Liteye and our partners are able to present leading edge capability in advanced 3D radars, HD Cameras, and the only US company to provide both narrow band and directional wide band electronic attack for this threat,” said Kenneth Allen Geyer, CEO Liteye Systems.  “SHIELD operates as a self-contained system or links multiple SHIELD payloads, but more importantly, it seamlessly integrates into higher-level networks, can cue kinetic and non-kinetic effectors, and can be physically integrated into practically any platform.  I’m proud of what Liteye and our teammates have achieved and confident we can continue to protect US interests around the world.”

“Liteye has been protecting US Forces, our Allies and Critical Infrastructure for years, and we’ve listened closely to what the US DoD deems important,” said Ryan Hurt, Vice President of Business Development.  “Constructing an autonomous kill chain with artificial intelligence and machine learning for detect, track and identification, so decisions can be made at machine speed, was the starting point for design of this new system. Seamless integration with existing Networks ensures Operators have access to the sensors and effectors they need, when they need them, and lessens the manpower footprint.  This is next generation multi-mission, multi-domain performance.”