Air Force Special Warfare Tests Kinetic Drone Interceptor in Counter-UAS Exercise – SOFX
AI Analysis
The US Air Force Special Warfare conducted a successful proof-of-concept exercise utilizing the Powerus Guardian-1 kinetic interceptor against Group 1-3 drones. This addresses a capability gap for forward-deployed teams lacking fixed-site defenses, and Powerus is scaling production to meet potential demand. Integration with Digital Force Technologies' Seraphim C2 platform is underway to enhance deployment capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- Air Force Special Warfare (AFSW) units (48th RQS, 7th ASOS, 316th CE EOD) tested the Powerus Guardian-1 interceptor at Florence Military Reservation, Arizona.
- The Guardian-1 is a 2.65kg kinetic C-sUAS system with a range of up to 15km and speeds of 180-211 mph, targeting Group 1-3 UAS.
- AFREP produced 10 target drones in under 30 days at 1.5% the cost of commercial equivalents, demonstrating in-house prototyping capabilities.
- Powerus currently produces 1,000 Guardian-1 units monthly, with plans to scale to 5,000.
- Powerus is integrating the Guardian-1 with Digital Force Technologies’ (DFT) Seraphim command-and-control platform, already deployed at US military outstations.
Why It Matters
This exercise highlights the increasing focus on mobile, kinetic C-sUAS solutions for protecting dispersed forces. The successful demonstration and planned scaling of production suggest a potential shift towards more readily deployable, drone-on-drone defense capabilities. The integration with DFT’s Seraphim platform indicates a move towards a more networked and interoperable C-sUAS architecture.
Air Force Special Warfare Tests Kinetic Drone Interceptor in Counter-UAS Exercise – SOFX
Air Force Special Warfare Tests Kinetic Drone Interceptor in Counter-UAS Exercise
- SOFX Staff Writer
- May 1, 2026
Air Force Special Warfare Airmen assigned to the 355 Wing defeat an unmanned aircraft system with a Guardian kinetic interceptor at a range in at Florence Military Reservation, Arizona, April 7, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)
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Air Force Special Warfare Airmen from the 48th Rescue Squadron, 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, and 316th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal conducted a counter-small unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) proof-of-concept event on April 7 at the Arizona Army National Guard Florence Military Reservation.
The exercise evaluated the Guardian-1 Interceptor from Powerus, a kinetic counter-drone system weighing 2.65 kilograms with battery, designed to engage Group 1 through 3 small UAS targets at ranges up to 15 kilometers and burst speeds of 180 to 211 mph.
“Our interceptor drone locking onto a target drone high above a U.S. military base,” Powerus founder Brett Velicovich said of the exercise. “This is next-gen air defense in action.”
Airmen under the Air Force Repair Enhancement Program (AFREP), managed by Tech. Sgt. Aron Figueroa, built the target aircraft for the event, producing 10 mission-ready drones in under 30 days at 1.5 percent of the cost of comparable commercial systems.
The Arizona Army National Guard and the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center, a Defense Innovation Unit-linked accelerator in Phoenix, participated as partners.
The exercise addressed a persistent gap for small forward-deployed teams that lack access to the fixed-site air defense systems protecting larger bases. Airmen executed four functions, covering detection, assessment, command and control, and defeat, with target profiles spanning fixed-wing systems and quadcopters across the full Group 1 through 3 range.
“We are evaluating a range of layered detection and defeat capabilities,” an AFSW Airman assigned to the 355th Wing said. “Our objective is a man-portable capability with a high degree of autonomy that can operate with minimal infrastructure while remaining fully interoperable within a broader C-sUAS architecture.”
Powerus produces 1,000 Guardian-1 units per month, with plans to scale to 5,000.
On April 14, the company announced a partnership with Digital Force Technologies(DFT) to integrate the Guardian-1 with DFT’s Seraphim command-and-control platform, deployed at U.S. military outstations worldwide.
SOFX Staff Writer
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