Leonardo DRS Unveils Advanced Drone-Countering System for Navy Vessels

Leonardo DRS has unveiled its Maritime-Mission Equipment Package (M-MEP) during the Navy League’s Sea Air Space 2026 trade event in Washington D.C. The system, integrated on a Sea Machines Stormrunner autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV), is designed to protect naval vessels from drone attacks. This platform-agnostic solution combines advanced sensors and effectors to counter single or multiple small to medium-sized drones in dynamic environments.

The M-MEP adapts Leonardo DRS’s ground-based Counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems for maritime operations, leveraging a modular design and open system architecture. This flexibility allows the system to be configured across various USVs, from 14 feet in length and beyond. The package includes active and passive radars, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems, and electronic warfare capabilities to disrupt drone guidance systems. Additionally, machine learning and artificial intelligence are integrated to predict and mitigate emerging threats, enhancing situational awareness and response times.

The demonstration highlights Leonardo DRS’s commitment to addressing the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems to naval security. By combining kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures with cutting-edge technology, the M-MEP aims to provide a robust defense solution for modern maritime operations.