Washington National Guard fields Anduril counter-drone suite for event security

Washington National Guard troops, including soldiers in the Counterdrug Program and members of the 10th Civil Support Team, are now equipped with an Anduril counter-drone system that can distinguish unmanned aircraft from birds at long distances, Forbes reported. The suite includes WISP, the Long Range Camera Tower, the Pulsar frequency sensor, and Lattice software. Forbes says it tracks drones in real time, fuses sensor data for operators, and uses artificial intelligence that can help pinpoint potential hostile operator locations. Guardsmen completed two weeks of intensive training and plan to use the system for security at large public events. Lt. Col. Wes Watson said civil support teams have explored ways to defeat drones as a delivery mechanism and would be vital if a downed drone were suspected of carrying a weapon of mass destruction. Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh linked the Anduril acquisition partly to FIFA preparation and said the Guard is addressing law, policy, and domestic employment challenges. Forbes says further training is planned with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.