Drone Killing Dune Buggy deployed

Using a commercial vehicle mated with mature systems, the Corps introduces counterdrone equipment

As the El Paso drone episode is worked out in after action reports on roles and missions, policy, and procedures, the USMC has announced a sole source contract to jump right into the solution with the “DASH”

“Last week, Marine Corps Systems Command (MARSCORSYSCOM) quietly put out a contracting notice regarding what it is currently referring to as the Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire (DASH) system.

“The program office within Program Executive Officer, Land Systems (PEO LS) Marine Corps for the Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) intends to award a hybrid contract (Firm-Fixed Price and Cost Type) on a sole-source basis to V2X … for the Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire (DASH) system,” according to the notice. “The Marine Corps has a unique and specific need to procure Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System already at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-9 level, to support dismounted Marines.”

“The DASH system fills a critical need to detect, identify, track, and defeat small UAS in a highly mobile, rugged form factor that will help protect Marines,” the notice continues. “The United States Government intends to procure up to 50 systems to include training, initial spares, and reimbursable repairs with an expected delivery date for two systems of no later than 30 May 2026 and delivery of the remaining 48 systems no later than December 2026 to meet an FY27 initial operational capability requirement. This effort is expected to be awarded in Fiscal Year 2026.” “

The vehicle looks like a Polaris or Can-Am UTV with two Hellfire Missiles and a mini-AESA radar.

If this does not look like a fun system, I don’t know what is.

Click on the picture to read the article.

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