Indra demonstrates Crow C-UAS system at NATO anti-drone exercises

By Defence Industry Europe

During the NATO Anti-Drone Interoperability Exercises (TIE24), Indra demonstrated the capabilities of its Crow anti-drone system to counter complex threats, including modified drone swarms resistant to traditional countermeasures. The Crow system integrated with 27 sensors and effectors from various European manufacturers, showcasing its ability to adapt to diverse missions and scenarios. This integration was enabled by the new NATO interoperability standard (C-UAS AEDP-4869), ensuring that different technologies could seamlessly operate together.

 

As drone technology evolves rapidly, with different types of drones and increasingly varied settings, modern armies require anti-drone systems that can quickly adjust to the specifics of each mission and scenario. Recognising this need, Indra has designed Crow’s command and control system to integrate effortlessly with an impressive 27 sensors and effectors manufactured by different companies across Europe. The ability to work with such a diverse range of systems was a key feature of the exercises, which were among the most significant NATO exercises of 2024, taking place in September in the Netherlands.

Crow’s seamless integration was made possible by its use of the new NATO interoperability standard (C-UAS AEDP-4869), formerly known as SAPIENT. This standard allows the system to operate like a “plug-and-play” device, meaning it can combine various technologies without complex setup or technical barriers. Indra participated in the “blind” trials, referred to as the Performance Challenge, which NATO designed to validate this new standard. These exercises aimed to ensure that the technologies developed by different allied nations could be harmonised into a unified system, ensuring cutting-edge anti-drone capabilities across the alliance.

 

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Indra’s head of the Crow solution, Juan López Campos, emphasised that the system offers each army the flexibility to configure it according to their specific needs. This level of adaptability is crucial in modern warfare, where armies must be prepared for diverse and unpredictable threats. Crow can also function alongside the command and control systems of allied forces, and it has the capability to integrate into future combat clouds. This ensures that the system is not only effective in current military environments but also ready for the future of digital warfare.

A key advantage of Indra’s Crow system is its ease of use, which was highlighted during the NATO exercises. Military operators with no prior experience using the system were able to operate it effectively without any issues. This high level of usability ensures that armies can deploy Crow quickly and efficiently, even in urgent or high-stress situations, without the need for extensive training or specialised knowledge.

 

 

In addition to the main anti-drone exercises, Indra also introduced a new radio frequency sensor during the tests, which was part of the NATO project for the Detection and Classification of Unmanned Aerial Systems by Radio Frequency (SET-204). This cutting-edge sensor is designed to scan airspace for drone threats, further enhancing the system’s already comprehensive range of detection tools. Like the rest of the Crow system, the new sensor was integrated with the NATO interoperability standard, allowing it to work smoothly with other command and control systems.

This new radio frequency sensor is the latest addition to Indra’s broad portfolio of defence systems, which includes state-of-the-art radars, electro-optical devices, and jammers, all designed to detect, classify, and neutralise aerial threats. Indra’s solutions have already been tested in real-world operations by the Spanish Air Force, including missions in Mali, and have been employed by State Security Forces to safeguard airspace during major international events and conventions, further proving the reliability and versatility of the system.

 

 

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