Agadir – The US Army plans to test up to 15 counter-drone systems in Morocco in spring 2027 as part of an initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of technologies designed to protect military personnel and operating locations against unmanned aircraft.
The US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) announced the initiative in partnership with the Army’s Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD).
The first accelerated capability event (ACE) will take place in Tan-Tan, southern Morocco, with a focus on counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and force protection.
The initiative aims to address capability gaps in protecting early-entry command posts and military operating locations against Group 1–3 small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The Army expects the accelerated process to help deliver tested technologies to soldiers within 180 days.
According to the US Army, Africa’s open electromagnetic spectrum, relatively uncongested airspace, and diverse terrain provide conditions that training ranges in the United States and Europe cannot easily replicate.
These characteristics will allow soldiers to test emerging technologies under operational conditions and identify solutions that the Army could deploy across its forces.
US Army to evaluate 15 counter-drone solutions
The Army will conduct the initiative through a three-phase process covering submission and preparation, soldier-led demonstrations, and follow-on operational evaluations.
G-TEAD assigned a team to SETAF-AF in summer 2026 to connect immediate operational requirements with rapid acquisition resources. The two commands will use the ACE framework to identify, evaluate and deliver technologies that meet soldiers’ needs.
“ACEs are driven by real, urgent, theater-specific technology gaps,” said US Army Maj. Katlin VanWye, a G-TEAD representative embedded with SETAF-AF.
“We take commanding general’s priorities and translate those immediate tactical challenges into clear, executable technical requirements that defense prize-authority partners and Portfolio Acquisition Executive partners can actually action.”
SETAF-AF plans to hold a soldier-led demonstration in Tan-Tan in February and March 2027. The Army will then conduct an operational assessment in April and May during African Lion 2027, the US Africa Command’s largest joint military exercise on the continent.
G-TEAD will validate up to 15 solutions in coordination with PAE Fires, one of the Army’s core modernization enterprises responsible for shaping, integrating and delivering critical fire capabilities. PAE Fires will serve as the transition partner for the selected technologies.
The initiative will assess five capability categories, including an integrated fly-away kit and four areas covering small UAS detection, kinetic defeat, nonkinetic defeat and passive protection.
“The ACE is structured around five capability categories,” VanWye said. “An overarching, completely integrated fly‑away kit and four subcategories focused on sUAS detection, kinetic defeat, nonkinetic defeat and passive protection. Solutions will integrate into the Army’s C-UAS command and control Integrated Battle Command System-Maneuver.”
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