Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) and F4 Defense International received a contract from DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory to develop a modular counter-unmanned aircraft system platform. The system is designed to detect, identify, track, target, and defeat hostile drones in contested operational environments.

The platform will integrate Draganfly's tethered aerial platform technology with identification, targeting, and defeat system architectures. The solution aims to provide persistent aerial overwatch, enhanced situational awareness, and coordinated airborne and ground-based drone mitigation capabilities.

The system will feature persistent tethered airborne surveillance and targeting, AI-enabled drone identification and tracking, real-time battlefield and base defense situational awareness, integrated electronic and kinetic defeat coordination capabilities, and rapid deployment architecture for expeditionary and fixed-site operations.

"Low-cost drones have become one of the most disruptive asymmetric threats facing military forces, governments, and critical infrastructure operators globally," said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. "This program represents another important step in Draganfly's continued expansion into advanced defense and force-protection technologies."

The global Counter-UAS market is projected to grow to more than $20 billion by 2030, according to industry research cited in the company's announcement. The initial contract phase will focus on systems integration, operational capability development, and field evaluation activities.

F4DI is an SBA HUBZone certified small business specializing in research, design, and development of advanced technology solutions for the Department of War. Draganfly develops drone solutions and systems for public safety, civil, military, agriculture, industrial inspection, security, mapping, and surveying markets.