Washington – October 12, 2026 -- BAE Systems (LON: BA) unveiled two layered counter-drone systems at AUSA 2026 for the U.S. Army: the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) and the High Power Microwave (HPM). The company says HPM is built from more than 99% commercial off-the-shelf components.
Both products target counter-unmanned aircraft (C-UAS) and counter-missile missions. They are designed to protect critical installations and maneuver forces against saturation drone attacks.
BAE Systems pairs kinetic and directed-energy layers against drone swarms
BAE Systems states that massed drone swarms have outpaced traditional, magazine-limited kinetic systems. MDACS supplies the kinetic layer, and HPM supplies the directed-energy layer. Together they combine high-velocity precision with what the company calls the near-limitless capacity of directed energy, for sustained, cost-efficient defense.
MDACS fires Hypervelocity Projectile for air defense and Scorpio-XR for ground strikes
MDACS is air transportable and is built for both offensive and defensive roles through a family of precision-guided munitions. For air defense, it fires the Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP), a next-generation guided round. For fixed and moving ground targets in contested environments, it fires Scorpio-XR, which doubles the range of existing 155mm cannon-launched projectiles.
HPM removes ammunition logistics with more than 99% commercial off-the-shelf parts
HPM is built on a high-maturity architecture and, according to BAE Systems, removes the logistical constraints of traditional ammunition entirely. It can defeat drone swarms continuously for as long as power is available. BAE Systems says this matters as adversaries field larger and more coordinated drone formations.
Jason Casciotti, vice president of BAE Systems' Weapon Systems product line, said threats are evolving faster than traditional procurement cycles. He said a validated technical core and a resilient supply chain underpin the offering.
BAE Systems says both systems move proven capability from the lab to the front line at an accelerated pace. The source gives no pricing, contract values or delivery timelines.