The United States Air Force recently deployed new anti-drone systems in support of its strategic bomber wing during an exercise held at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. As part of these operations, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) officially certified the Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System Fly-Away Kit, a new mobile capability designed to detect, track, and intercept small drones that could threaten military installations and aircraft.
The purpose of the exercise was to test the system’s rapid deployment capability—from air transport and installation to the execution of active defense missions and subsequent withdrawal. During operations, over a hundred simulated interactions with aerial targets were conducted, allowing the system to be certified as an operational tool capable of providing immediate protection against UAS threats within the continental United States.
The Fly-Away Kit is a modular system that integrates sensors and effectors to detect, track, identify, and neutralize drone threats. Its components include the Heimdal sensor trailer (radar, thermal optics, and a 360° system), autonomous Anvil interceptors, the Pulsar electronic warfare effector—focused on RF signal detection and denial—and the Wisp infrared sensor, featuring AI-based analysis capabilities. Command and control coordination between sensors and effectors is managed through the Lattice architecture.
It is important to note that USNORTHCOM’s certification carries particular significance as it was conducted at Minot Air Force Base, which hosts part of the B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber fleet. The activity also coincided with a new deployment of these aircraft as part of patrol and global presence missions in the Caribbean, reinforcing the need for systems capable of protecting high-value units and assets from threats such as drones. In this sense, the exercise made it possible to assess the kit’s use in a real operational environment associated with the U.S. Air Force’s strategic force operations.
With this certification, USNORTHCOM brings into service a new mobile anti-drone defense capability designed to protect strategic installations and high-value assets within the United States. The system—already tested during the Falcon Peak 25.2 exercise at Eglin AFB—marks the transition from the experimental to the operational phase, consolidating a rapid-response capability against emerging threats in military airspace.
You may also like: The U.S. Air Force released images of its B-52H Stratofortress bombers flying just a few kilometers off the coast of Venezuela
