US aerospace and defense technology corporation L3Harris Technologies has just introduced Wraith Shield, a new software solution to upgrade tactical radio communication equipment into a network for detecting and countering small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using artificial intelligence (AI).
According to the company's introduction, Wraith Shield adds radio frequency (RF) sensor capabilities supported by AI, allowing existing military walkie-talkies to detect UAVs right on the battlefield.
This means that each soldier carrying a walkie-talkie can participate in the UAV surveillance and defense system in real time.
Mr. Rob Mariuz - Product Manager of L3Harris, said that this is the first wireless sensor on the market capable of connecting to distributed data networks.
Instead of operating individually, soldiers' communication equipment will link into a common data sharing network, supporting the unified construction of the battlefield panorama.
Wraith Shield can also operate independently or in combination with other L3Harris UAV defense systems such as VAMPIRE to create a multi-layered defense against threats from small attack UAVs.
According to L3Harris, the new system allows soldiers to directly jam enemy UAV signals through the radio equipment they are using.
Just pressing a button, the operator can disable vulnerable unmanned systems, causing them to lose control and fall down.
One of the notable points of Wraith Shield is the ability to visualize the electromagnetic environment thanks to the technology of DataShapes AI Technology Company. The system uses the GlobalEdge platform to convert RF data into real-time intelligence information right at the scene without relying on cloud servers or centralized data processing centers.
DataShapes AI's software has the ability to classify RF signals from connected devices and display them directly on soldiers' devices. Thanks to that, the combat force can quickly detect unusual signals, identify risks from UAVs and provide almost immediate responses.
Mr. Paul Craft - President of DataShapes AI, said that this technology helps shorten the gap between the "feeling" and "action" processes of soldiers on the battlefield.
According to Mr. Paul Craft, providing real-time situational awareness to the front lines will contribute to improving survivability in an increasingly complex combat environment.
Wraith Shield will be integrated on the RF-9820S compact radio system, while the version for RF-9820S-ER is expected to be launched later this year.
This technology will also be provided as a software upgrade for all radio devices that previously supported the Wraith system.
Currently, more than 100,000 devices have been deployed and used by the armies of countries, opening up the possibility of rapidly expanding the UAV defense network without needing to invest in new hardware.
According to Mr. Tom Sheehan - Head of Product Management at L3Harris Technologies, Wraith Shield's biggest advantage is taking advantage of the communication equipment that soldiers carry every day.
Sensors are sent directly to the front lines and important tactical positions, because soldiers already have the wearable communication system needed to operate this technology," Mr. Tom Sheehan emphasized.
