Inside Defense (https://insidedefense.com/) reports that the US Navy in its fiscal year 2018 supplemental request has included a sum of USD37.2 million in wartime funding for three counter-unmanned aerial system projects.
“The bulk of the request, or $29.7 million, would fund the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare project. JCREW enhanced performance is required to compete with the evolving C-UAS threat, the service writes in an updated budget justification requirements book,” writes the publication. “Another project, Combating Irregular and Expeditionary Challenges, is a rapid capabilities development project focused on C-UAS prototypes. The Navy is requesting USD5.4 million in wartime funding for the effort….This includes developing small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) precision strike capabilities to counter enemy modified small drone systems and improve [Naval Special Warfare] tactical edge in the near-peer and counter-terrorism fight,” according to the document.
The service has also requested USD2.1 million in wartime funding for the third project, MK 38 MOD 2 Machine Gun System upgrades to include software improvements to the optics and fire control capabilities to be able to detect, track, and engage UAS threats.
