Austria receives Rheinmetall C-UAS system for evaluation

Austria has received a Rheinmetall C-UAS platform for six months of evaluation and testing. (Rheinmetall)

Austria has received a Rheinmetall Air Defence counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) platform that defends against small unmanned aerial vehicles for six months of evaluation and testing, the German company announced in a press release on 23 May.

Rheinmetall said the system has two shelter units that can be rapidly deployed by standard trucks and trailers. The sensor unit elevates automatically and can be equipped with detection systems including X-band and S-band radar, a passive emitter locator, and ADS-B receiver, with verification and tracking provided by an integrated, stabilized 360° electro-optical pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) sensor. The command-and-control shelter is based on the Oerlikon Skymaster system, providing sensor data fusion, threat evaluation, and operational functions including integrated target cueing, weapon assignment, and links to higher command levels.

The Bundesheer (Austrian Armed Forces), with Rheinmetall support, will test and evaluate the C-UAS platform at several locations in the country, simulating air base protection, integration into other military units, and providing protection in urban areas. A public demonstration of the system will be given at the Airpower 22 air show at Hinterstoisser Air Base on 2–3 September.