AV Unveils Red Dragon UAS and Titan 4 C-UAS
AeroVironment (AV) has announced the launch of Red Dragon, a fully autonomous, software-defined unmanned aircraft system (UAS) specifically engineered for one-way attack missions in challenging environments characterized by high threats, GPS denial, and degraded communication.
As part of AV’s expanding tactical autonomy portfolio, Red Dragon is built on the company’s AVACORE shared software architecture. This innovative design allows for rapid development, scalable manufacturing, and modular mission integration. With the aid of AV’s SpotrEdge perception system, the UAS excels in target detection and classification, empowering operators to make confident decisions through its proprietary DDIL radio system.
Combining advanced autonomy with electronic warfare resilience, Red Dragon provides tactical flexibility that was previously unattainable in this class of UAS. It can autonomously carry out mission objectives without continuous operator input or reliance on satellite navigation, making it suitable for contested airspace and varying communications environments.
The manufacturing scale of Red Dragon allows for rapid production, deployment, and simplified logistical support to align with operational requirements. Its design is versatile, optimized for use across air, land, and maritime domains, and enables quick and effective training for small teams.
“Red Dragon signifies a significant advancement in autonomous lethality,” stated Jeff Rodrian, Executive Vice President of MacCready Works. “By integrating advanced autonomy, GNSS-independent navigation, and mass producibility, Red Dragon delivers a mission-ready system tailored for the complexities of modern warfare.”
Wahid Nawabi, President & CEO of AV, emphasized, “At AV, our objective is to transform warfare by prioritizing the safety and operational superiority of our personnel. Red Dragon embodies the breakthrough technologies necessary to ensure that U.S. and allied forces remain ahead in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.”
In addition to Red Dragon, AV also unveiled Titan 4, the next evolution in its established Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technology. Titan 4 is designed as a smaller, lighter, and more potent radio frequency (RF)-based solution for detecting and neutralizing Group 1 and 2 drone threats.
Portable and adaptable for various mission needs, Titan 4 can be deployed in under five minutes, creating a protective shield around personnel and infrastructure by detecting and neutralizing threats. The new version is 17% lighter and 73% smaller than its predecessor, now reconfigured into a single compact chassis, and boasts nearly 250% more transmit power across six RF bands to tackle present and emerging threats. To enhance operational effectiveness, AV has integrated its Titan-SV system into Titan 4 for AI-enabled long-range precision threat detection.
“With over a thousand units deployed and extensive operational experience, we have harnessed insights from active engagements to develop the next generation of RF C-UAS technologies. Titan 4 is optimized to manage individual and swarm threats in harsh conditions through adaptive and autonomous countermeasures, ensuring the safety of our warriors and critical military operations,” remarked Trace Stevenson, President of AV’s Autonomous Systems Segment.
Titan 4 stands as the flagship in AV’s Titan C-UAS suite, which will expand with diverse solutions ranging from larger fixed-site configurations to small, interoperable plug-and-play sensors. The suite includes:
- Titan-MS: AI-driven technology for multi-sensor threat detection, identification, tracking, and neutralization, ideal for fixed-site installations.
- Titan-EO/IR: A portable platform utilizing both RF capabilities and MWIR sensors for comprehensive threat management.
- Titan-SV LOB: A versatile detection solution offering robust coverage and tracking capabilities for small-UAS threats.
- Titan-SV MOSA/SOSA: The next iteration of Titan-SV, focused on enhancing compatibility across various defense systems.
“Our comprehensive suite of Titan RF C-UAS solutions significantly enhances our military capabilities,” asserted Jimmy Jenkins, Executive Vice President of AV’s Precision Strike and Defense Systems Group. “By transitioning innovations from prototypes to full-scale production, we aim to deliver U.S.-made operational units to our military personnel stationed at home and abroad.”
Titan was recognized as a C-UAS Program of Record (POR) capability for a confidential Department of Defense client in 2022, leading to over 1,000 units deployed by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Special Operations Forces to safeguard U.S. and allied forces and critical infrastructure. The Titan systems have also been employed domestically for crowd protection during significant events and are trusted internationally by NATO countries and other allies to bolster air defense against drone threats.
