US Army taps Leonardo DRS to provide additional M-LIDS Counter-UAS platforms

On October 7, 2022, Leonardo DRS received approximately USD 40 million and on November 11, 2022, the company was awarded approximately USD 20 million through a modification contract.

Under the existing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, this new task order requires DRS to deliver additional kinetic defeat vehicles and spares.  M-LIDS allows soldiers to detect, identify, track and defeat small UAS with electronic warfare and kinetic defeat systems.  The M-LIDS system includes a mix of kinetic defeat effectors including the XM914 (30mm) cannon hosted by the Moog Inc.’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret.

“Leonardo DRS is proud to be a member of the M-LIDS team, and we appreciate the opportunity to deliver additional vehicles.  Drones have become a dangerous threat to our warfighters,” said Aaron Hankins, Senior Vice President and General Manager, DRS Land Systems.  “Delivering M-LIDS vehicles remains one of our highest priorities, and we are excited about this new task order.”

In March 2022, M-LIDS Increment 2 was identified as a US Army ACAT III program of record, and the U.S. Army leadership directed accelerated deliveries of multiple C-UAS capabilities, including M-LIDS. The two-vehicle capability provides a balance of kinetic and non-kinetic defeat capabilities which have already completed extensive government testing.  Several sets of M-LIDS Increment 2 are currently deployed overseas protecting US and allied forces.

The DRS Land Systems business unit serves as the lead systems integrator for this mobile C-UAS capability.

The DRS Land Systems business is part of the company’s Integrated Mission Systems segment which provides force protection products and services including counter-unmanned aerial systems, short-range air defense systems, and active protection systems, across multiple platforms for the men and women of the US armed forces.