Why 

Major Jason Dempsey, US Marine Corps

US Major calls for lightweight drone interceptor to protect Marines

Major Jason Dempsey, Counter-UAS and GBAD Capabilities Integration Officer for the US Marine Corps, highlighted the urgent need for portable counter-UAS systems during his presentation at the Counter-UAS Technology USA conference.

Maj. Dempsey provided an overview of the Marine Corps’ current capabilities and the critical gaps that remain.

Maj. Dempsey emphasized the evolving threat posed by small unmanned systems in modern warfare:

“We know the threat. The threat has evolved. We have seen that the threat is dropping bombs into a tank’s hell hole. We have seen that troops are actually being attacked by these small, group one UAS that are a couple hundred dollars [and when equipped with] a mason jar, a grenade and a diode, you can have close air support.”

He described the Marine Corps’ efforts to address these threats, including the development of various integrated systems such as the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) and the Light MADIS, as well as fixed-site and medium-range intercept capabilities.

According to Maj. Dempsey, the LMADIS ground-based air-defense system will begin fielding in Summer 2025.

Deconflicting the airspaceThere have also been efforts underway to enhance airspace awareness and ensure that the Marines can accurately identify hostile UAS when they appear and prevent friendly UAS being mistakenly shot down. 

The intent is to implement an "amber alert" system that enables geofencing of the environment to avoid unnecessary alerts for troops on the ground. Maj. Dempsey compared the problem to that of alerts from home security systems.

"Does anyone have a home security system? I do, you start getting pinged and you start ignoring it. We can't do that. I need to be able to say this is a threat, it's in your close proximity and you need to be able to take action on it while another unit is kicking in doors on the other block. But they don't know what's happening over there, because they don't need to know, it's not within their battle space," he said.
However, Maj. Dempsey pointed to a critical need for dismounted counter-UAS solutions that are lightweight, easy to use, and effective against aerial threats without adding significant burden to Marines in the field. He noted that there is a key distinction between man-portable and dismounted systems.
"There's a big difference between man-portable and dismounted. Man-portable, after a mile, I'm probably exhausted. Dismounted, I can walk that 25 miles if the battalion requires me to."
A tiered approachThe Marine Corps is taking a tiered approach with "packages" that increase capability at each echelon. 

Maj Dempsey dived into the requirements for packages one, two and three.

Package one

Package one focuses on the individual Marine, particularly those stationed at entry control points or on short watches.

"That Marine on the deck has a phone, has a watch, and if they get indications of warnings, it will tell him where to point his weapon system if he needs to go kinetic," Maj. Dempsey explained.
The Marines are looking at RF detection systems, passive detection systems, and acoustic detection systems to provide real-time alerts. However, Maj Dempsey also stressed that they want to maximize the use of existing weapons, such as the M4 and M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.
"The last thing a Marine needs is another weapon system," he said, but added, "If you can allow me the ability to kill the bad guy and kill a drone, we'd be willing to entertain another weapon system."

Major Jason Dempsey, US Marine Corps

Package two

For package two, the focus shifts to small units requiring enhanced detection capabilities.

"You're looking at EO/IR [electro-optical/infrared] and maybe a small radar that allows them to have both an active detection system and passive detection system, as well as the RF detection system," Maj. Dempsey said.
The biggest gap, however, remains the lack of short-range interceptors. "I need the ability to kill these damn things," he said. "Whether that ties into a different radar, or whether it has its own organic ability to detect the system and kill the threat, that is on industry to help us out."
Package three

For package three, which focuses on vehicle-mounted or fixed-site capabilities, modularity is key.

"[We need] the ability to have both a fixed-site tower and a tripod capability, and be able to put it on a vehicle, [and take it] off very quickly," he explained. "[For example, if] my engineers are rebuilding a bridge, they can drive up, their vehicles already have these capabilities on the system. 

And if those trucks need to go away, they just put it on a tripod and keep going."

The need for a dismounted interceptor. 

Maj. Dempsey also highlighted the importance of equipping dismounted forces with the tools to detect, track and engage enemy drones while maintaining their operational flexibility. 

This is particularly key when considering the prevalence of jam-resistant drones such as those being deployed in Ukraine.

"We know where the threat is going," he warned. "RF detection systems are becoming more obsolete. 

If I utilize a C2 dark drone, where it's utilizing AI, ML or image recognition, I can't jam that. I need to be able to kill it, shoot it out of the sky, and that's where a short-range interceptor comes into play."

"I need Marines that have the ability to not necessarily conduct air defense, but conduct self-defense against the aerial threat. I need a short-range interceptor that I can launch like a football, for lack of better terms, and go intercept that threat. The system needs to be lightweight, easy to use, easy to train and MOS agnostic."

Major Jason Dempsey, US Marine Corps

As the Marine Corps continues to refine its requirements for these capabilities, Maj. Dempsey called on industry to provide innovative solutions.
"The program office has the flexibility, if I have a capability that has more lethality, it's smaller, lightweight and more than anything, has a higher probability of kill. They have the flexibility where I don't have to write a requirement. They just go and buy the new system." 


Author Adam Jeffs

January 8, 2025


Russia’s new Geran-3 pose challenge for Ukraine’s air defenses

Russia’s newly developed turbojet-powered Shahed-238 drones, also known as Geran-3, will present a significant challenge for Ukraine’s air defenses, requiring advanced anti-aircraft missile systems rather than mobile fire groups, according to analysts.


The report follows confirmation from Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) on Feb. 18 that Russia is ramping up production of the Geran-3 drone, a clone of the Iranian Shahed-238 UAS. 

Intelligence also revealed efforts to modernize the older Shahed-136 model and Russia’s continued attempts to obscure the origin of drone components.


The Geran-3 is expected to feature the Iranian Tolou-10/13 turbojet engine, enabling the drone to reach speeds of 550-600 km/h and a range of up to 2,500 km. 

These capabilities mark a significant advancement over the propeller-driven Shahed-136, making the new model harder to intercept.


Russia’s initial use of the Iranian Shahed-238 for strikes on Ukraine was recorded in late 2023, shortly after Iran officially unveiled the updated Shahed drone in the fall of that year.


Despite the confirmed engine type, it remains unclear what kind of electronics Russia will install in the Geran-3 drones. Ukraine’s HUR has emphasized that the UAS’ reliance on Iranian components highlights Moscow’s ongoing dependence on Tehran’s military technology.


The destructive power of the Geran-3 also remains uncertain, as there is no confirmed information about the warhead type. 

However, experts agree that with a top speed of 600 km/h, these drones will be far more difficult for Ukraine’s mobile fire groups, which typically rely on small arms and helicopters to counter Shahed drones, to intercept.


Military analysts have identified several weapons systems capable of countering the Geran-3 drones, including:


Man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), 

Traditional air defense complexes and

Other air defense systems proven effective against Russian cruise missiles. 


As Russia intensifies its drone production and modernization efforts, Ukraine may need to further bolster its air defense capabilities to address the growing threat posed by the high-speed Geran-3 UAS.


 UK Colonel believes every soldier must be ready to counter drone threats

UK Colonel believes every soldier must be ready to counter drone threats. 

As drone threats continue to evolve in modern warfare, with UAS seeing extensive use in conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Asia, the division of counter-UAS responsibilities among military forces has become a key area of contention.

Speaking at the Counter UAS Technology Europe conference, Colonel Stuart Hay, Commander of the UK’s 7th Air Defence Group, proposed a shift in the counter-UAS approach for UK Defence forces. According to Col. Hay, counter-UAS should no longer be considered a specialist task and counter-UAS responsibilities should be embedded throughout every echelon of the Armed Forces.

“Counter UAS is obviously everyone’s fight. In the same way that counter-IED became everyone’s fight in Afghanistan, and counter-biological, radiological, nuclear warfare was everybody’s fight in the Cold War… we just need to understand who is best to contribute to that battle at the right point in time with the right systems.”

Col. Stuart Hay, UK 7th Air Defence Group

Reframing the fight

Col. Hay’s central argument is that the military must treat the counter-UAS fight not as a remote air domain challenge, but as a direct fire engagement, something that every soldier is trained to handle from day one.

“The counter-UAS fight should be predominantly treated as a direct firefight. We trust our tank commander to put a round into a T-90 and not into an M1 Abrams. We should trust that soldier on the ground to do the same thing and deploy their system correctly in the direct firefight against the UAS.”


Col. Stuart Hay, UK 7th Air Defence Group

Hay warned that attempts to over-centralize control of counter-UAS engagements, applying an “air approach” to managing drone threats, were unrealistic and destined to fail.

“We should not seek to command and control everything. If we take the air approach to the counter UAS battle, we will fail,” he said.

Placing trust in the generalist

Col. Hay outlined a set of conceptual ideas developed by staff officers within the 7th Air Defence Group, aimed at challenging current assumptions about who should engage in the counter-UAS fight. While not formal policy, the framework proposes that generalist soldiers, not just dedicated specialists, could be empowered to handle drone threats under certain conditions.

Drawing from foundational principles taught during basic training, Hay argued that many of the skills required to fight drones at close range already exist within the general force. These include visual identification of threats, appropriate application of weapon systems and procedural deconfliction, all established competencies in conventional infantry training.

“Every soldier is visually trained to identify the threat. Every soldier is trained to apply their weapon system against the appropriate targets… and every soldier is trained to deconflict their weapons effects, both procedurally and dynamically.”

Col. Stuart Hay, UK 7th Air Defence Group

These training foundations, he suggested, could support a more decentralized, responsive counter-UAS model, one that avoids over-reliance on centralized command-and-control and places greater trust in the judgment of frontline troops. The goal is not to lower standards, but to adapt the employment of capabilities to the realities of modern drone warfare.

The focus should be on keeping the fight simple at the edge, rather than complicating it with overburdened command-and-control requirements.

“Minimizing the additional procedural airspace control measures should be our goal… and not over-complicating things for the person at greatest risk.”

Col. Stuart Hay, UK 7th Air Defence Group

Specialists still needed

While advocating for a more inclusive approach, Col. Hay acknowledged that some counter-UAS systems will remain specialist-only. He outlined clear tests for determining whether a capability belongs in specialist hands, including:

Weapon effects that require cross-domain coordination or long planning timelines such as lasers or high-power jammers.

Systems that operate beyond visual range and carry a high risk of friendly fire.

Capabilities with steep training requirements.

He emphasized that most generalist engagements should remain visual-range only, allowing soldiers to maintain control and accountability without additional risk.

“I think that your generalist engagement will be, or should be, a visual range engagement. No beyond visual range engagement,” he said.

Paralysis on the battlefield

Perhaps most compelling was Hay’s warning that an over-centralized or over-complicated approach could cause operational paralysis in high-threat environments.


“I can foresee a situation, with so many warnings, so many drones, that we become paralyzed to the threat from above and unable to generate any momentum or freedom of action in our soldiers on the ground.”

Col. Stuart Hay, UK 7th Air Defence Group

He described the risk of soldiers being overwhelmed by indicators and warnings from drones they’re not equipped or prepared to deal with, highlighting the urgency of generalizing counter-UAS capabilities.

The counter-UAS fight should no longer be limited to high-end systems or specialist units, the soldiers that face the most risk from drone threats on the modern battlefield should be empowered to defend against them.

As drones become a routine threat on the battlefield, the response may need to become just as routine, built into the training, tools and mindset of every soldier.


Author Adam Jeffs - C-UAS Hub and SAE Media Group

Publish Date May 22, 2025


FPV kamikaze is not another new approach or weapon, it is a revolution in military affairs


IDF Major General (Res.) Dr. Yaakov Benjo* and Elbit Systems communications specialist Guy N. on the FPV revolution.

First published on 19.05.2025 as a separate article in the IDF magazine "Ma'arahot".

Translated from Hebrew and summarized by Yigal Levin.

• FPV kamikaze (hereinafter simply FPV) is not another new approach or weapon, it is a revolution in military affairs. Old doctrines no longer work.

• NATO generals have yet to grasp the full depth of the changes. The only ones who are improving in the field of FPV today are the armies of Ukraine and Russia.

• The FPV factor cannot be bypassed with point solutions or ignored (at the cost of losses, for example), since it completely changes the very basis of tactics.

• The phenomenal effectiveness of FPV is due to a combination of several factors: low cost, fantastic accuracy and range - tens of kilometers.

• FPV provides a unique opportunity to concentrate a mass of fire damage (using FPV "flocks") while maintaining decentralization of your own forces.

• FPV on fiber optics should be noted separately, which at this stage cannot be stopped in any way except by destroying the operator himself.

• FPV is unique in that the operator is in maximum (relative to the scale of the war) safety, and is extremely difficult to detect.

• Small drones and FPV violated the main foundation of classical military thought - the concentration of effort and mass in specific areas. On a modern battlefield, you can not deploy and concentrate forces larger than a company.

• The defender can no longer rely on concentrated fortified areas. The architecture of modern defense is a decentralized and deep network of positions, including a large number of false positions and decoys.

• The attacker's tactics are also changing — they rely on small tactical units that penetrate deep into the defender's ranks, pulling out "arrows" (Ukrainians call them "pisyuny").

• The offensive is now based on the concentration of fire and weapons, and not on the concentration of forces and maneuver. This has led to the attacker advancing extremely slowly, since it relies on small units.

• Any forward logistics centers or headquarters are turning into death traps due to their bulkiness.

• The solution for logistics is decentralization, and for command — going underground and relying on wired and satellite communications.

• A revolutionary change is the change in the very architecture of the front line — now it is a 40-kilometer "death crater", where being in the open for at least 15 minutes will lead to inevitable death.

• A competent combination of forces in the context of combined arms combat - aviation, artillery and FPV masses together with ground forces - can lead to tactical successes.

• Air superiority must now also be divided. Since this very superiority has little effect on the space of the "death crater" of 40 km on the front - what is called the new space of small aviation.

• The day is not far off when we will see the launch of full-fledged swarms of drones with fiber optics and controlled by combat AI. This will lead to the uselessness of a large number of operators.

• This situation raises the question of the place of man in relation to the "man-machine" fusion on the future battlefield.

• Both experts emphasize that the IDF must literally make a leap in this area and introduce FPV drones into all army units. It is also necessary to break all bureaucratic restrictions that prevent this.

• Carelessness and ignoring this technology will result in paying double the price. This is a revolutionary technology, not a local phenomenon.

Schemes: the first is the battlefield and threats; FPV is unique in its fantastic cheapness and mass production. The second is a 40 km section, the so-called "death crater", where being open for 15 minutes will lead to your death.

*Yakov Benzho served 34 years in the army, most of them in the armored corps. Today he is a specialist at the BESA Center on issues of increasing firepower - from tactical to strategic levels.


Air Defense
Stinger MANPADS Modernization and Replacement Projects
Stinger MANPADS. 


Modernization and Replacement Projects
Training Launch of the Stinger MANPADS


Despite a series of upgrades, the FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) has become outdated.
The US Army is aware of this problem and plans to address it.
To this end, several projects of various types were launched a few years ago.
These projects involve another round of modernization for the existing MANPADS or the development of an entirely new system.

Modernization Project


The Stinger MANPADS was adopted by the US Army in the early 1980s, and mass production began at that time.
By the early 2000s, several modernization projects had been developed, improving various technical and combat characteristics. However, after that, the development of the FIM-92 stalled for a long time.

By the early 2020s, it became clear that the Stinger, regardless of the specific modification, was obsolete. A deep modernization or the creation of a completely new MANPADS was required. As it later became clear, the Pentagon decided to pursue both options.

At the beginning of the decade, a program was adopted to extend the service life of existing missiles.
It involved inspecting and, if necessary, repairing the onboard electronics.
At a certain stage, a full-scale modernization of the control and guidance systems was proposed, but it was deemed too complex.

In 2023-24, the US Army Aviation and Missile Center launched research and development work under the codename Red Wasp.
Its goal is to create a new solid-fuel engine for installation on existing Stinger missiles.
This modernization aims to improve the missiles’ flight characteristics and significantly extend their service life.

Using available technologies and materials, the Center developed six engine variants.
In May 2024, comparative tests of these engines were conducted. Based on the results, the prototype engines were refined and improved. New tests are scheduled for July 2025.

It is expected that this time, the most successful engine variant will be selected.
After that, it will be integrated into the design of the existing missile. 
Then, over the next few years, the Pentagon may launch a full-scale re-engining of the existing FIM-92s. As before, replacing the electronics is not planned.

New System


For the past several years, the army and industry have been working on the creation of the "Mobile Short-Range Air Defense System" (M-SHORAD). In March 2022, the Pentagon issued a request for information regarding the next modification of this SAM system. Under the M-SHORAD Increment 3 project, the possibility of creating a new missile to replace the existing FIM-92 was considered.

Subsequently, the plans to develop a new missile were formalized in a separate program called NGSRI (Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor).
In 2022-23, the relevant army structures developed requirements for this project and opened applications for participation in its development.


In 2023, the Pentagon launched a competitive phase for the development of a new MANPADS.


Raytheon and Lockheed Martin received contracts for this work. Over the next few years, they were to create their versions of the air defense system, after which the military intended to select the most successful one.

It should be noted that the timelines for the M-SHORAD Inc. 3 and NGSRI programs have been revised several times.
For example, at the start of work in 2022, it was assumed that the first test launches of prototype missiles would take place by the end of fiscal year 2023. Serial production of the finished MANPADS was planned to begin no later than 2027.
However, the schedule has since shifted. For example, comparative tests of the two MANPADS are now planned only for 2025-26.

NGSRI by Raytheon


During 2023 and 2024, Raytheon worked out the main features of its NGSRI MANPADS version and conducted preliminary design. Several key components were developed for use in the final version. Last year, these components successfully underwent testing.

In mid-February 2025, Raytheon reported its latest successes. It was announced that over the previous few months, the company had conducted bench and field tests of 10 key components of the future MANPADS. All activities were successful, allowing work on the full system to continue.

Tests of a new seeker head were conducted.
Both on the bench and at the range, it showed clear advantages over the old Stinger seeker.
The new solid-fuel engine also confirmed its characteristics. It is expected to increase the range and altitude of interception. Based on experience with existing systems, a new warhead was created.

For its NGSRI MANPADS, Raytheon developed a new launcher, attachable to the missile container.
Its equipment simplifies the operator's work and improves the detection and identification range of aerial targets.

In the near future, Raytheon plans to integrate the individual components into a complete MANPADS and begin testing. 
The assembled system will need to confirm the calculated characteristics and then demonstrate superiority over the competing design.

Lockheed Martin’s MANPADS


In parallel, Lockheed Martin is developing its own version of the new MANPADS, called QuadStar. This system is still in the design and component testing stage. However, the developer is already ready to show models and publish other materials about the project.

It is reported that the QuadStar project is based on an older Lockheed Martin development — the Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) light missile system. Its missile is now being redesigned to meet MANPADS requirements, which requires significant modification of the original design.

To turn the MHTK into the QuadStar anti-aircraft missile, it needs a new guidance system, an appropriate warhead, etc. However, the body and main structural elements, engine, and autopilot can remain the same. Nevertheless, due to the age of the MHTK project, some components may need to be updated with modern elements.

A new launcher is being created for NGSRI / QuadStar. A portable equipment unit is proposed, equipped with an expanded set of optical and electronic tools. It is noted that this "launcher" will be significantly more complex than that used with the FIM-92 MANPADS, but will offer several clear advantages.

Lockheed Martin is completing the QuadStar project and preparing for tests of the new MANPADS, which should take place no later than 2025-26. The promising system will then be handed over to the customer for comparative testing.

Comprehensive Approach
Thus, the Pentagon is seriously addressing the problem of outdated MANPADS and is taking the necessary measures. A project is underway to modernize existing FIM-92s by replacing key components. At the same time, new systems are being developed, one of which will eventually replace the current Stinger.

If there are no unforeseen problems or difficulties, the Stinger modernization project can be implemented in a few years. In turn, the development of a completely new MANPADS, the launch of its production, and sufficient re-equipment of the army may take longer.
All these programs are planned to be completed by the beginning of the next decade, and this forecast currently looks realistic.