XTEND has announced it has delivered dozens of SKYLORD GRIFFON systems, for operational usage to the United States Army Special Operations Command.
According to the company:
“XTEND’s signature SKYLORD GRIFFON, is a SMART hard-kill C-UAS platform that allows any operator with no flight experience to kinetically intercept aerial threats using a resilient, ultra-fast drone system. SKYLORD GRIFFON seamlessly interfaces with any detection or command and control system for total control. Fusing edge technology with human-centric cognitive capabilities— such as 3D navigation, visual HMI spatial translation, and augmented reality API—operators can deploy multiple drone teams to detect, identify, and intercept enemy drones. SKYLORD GRIFFON is designed to defeat Group 1/2 COTS UAS in ranges of up to three miles from the launch point. It flies up to 80 miles per hour and uses a single use effector to intercept the target drone within seconds of recognition.”
According to XTEND CEO Aviv Shapira. “The system leverages state-of-the-art AR technology and enables operators to immerse themselves in remote, high-risk, GPS denied locations, avoiding danger. In addition to counter-drone interception, the SKYLORD drone systems are also optimal for ground-based air defense (GBAD), urban warfare, counter improvised explosive device initiatives (C-IED) and subterranean (Sub-T) operations.”
- The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) appointed the U.S. Army as the executive agent to oversee all C-sUAS programmes, according to the company. The executive agent later established the Joint C-sUAS Office (JCO) in January 2020. Today, JCO leads, synchronizes, and directs all counter-drone activities across the DoD. Part of JCO’s strategy is to “Ready the Force,” which includes the development of materiel and non-materiel solutions that maximize counter capabilities as well as aid in the execution of DoD missions and defence against adversaries’ objectives. The DoD has allocated USD404 million for C-UAS research and development as well as USD83 million for C-UAS procurement for the 2021 fiscal year.
