WASHINGTON, DC – US Army commanders said on Tuesday they are accelerating efforts to field new counter-drone systems across NATO’s eastern flank, emphasizing that troop rotations or adjustments in Europe will not weaken US commitment to regional deterrence as drone incursions persist.
Speaking during a State Department Brussels Hub virtual briefing, Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commander of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and Col. Christopher Hill, director of the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (GTEAD), detailed how new US counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) initiatives are being driven by lessons from Ukraine and executed in close coordination with NATO allies.
Rapid deployment of combat-proven systems
Brig. Gen. King highlighted two recent demonstrations – a C-UAS training event in Poland (on Nov. 10) and the FlyTrap 4.5 competition in Germany – that showcased the Army’s ability to bring new battlefield technologies directly to troops within weeks.
In Poland, US, Polish, and Romanian soldiers trained on the MEROPS mobile C-UAS system, produced by US firm Napatree and previously used by Ukrainian forces.
The system employs radar, electro-optical sensors, and interceptor drones to destroy targets simulating Russia’s Shahed one-way attack drones.
Brig. Gen. King said MEROPS provides a lethal, mobile, and cost-effective option, costing roughly one-tenth the price of the Shaheds it is designed to neutralize.
In Germany, 11 industry finalists tested sensors, software, and effectors designed to detect and defeat drones. Four companies were selected for follow-on work, Col. Hill said, adding that they left equipment with US troops for continued evaluation.
Col. Hill described FlyTrap 4.5 as the Army’s most successful demonstration of “soldier-led acquisition,” shortening integration timelines from months to days by having engineers and soldiers work side-by-side in the field.
US commitment and NATO scaling
Responding to Kyiv Post’s questions on whether troop rotations or reductions could be misinterpreted as a weakening of US resolve, Brig. Gen. King said any personnel adjustments should not be viewed as diminishing the US commitment to NATO’s eastern deterrence line.
“The US is part of a defensive alliance,” he said. “Romania is a central part of that alliance, and we will maintain our commitment to collective defense.”
Brig. Gen. King stressed that the US presence in Europe is tied to mission requirements and operational needs, not perceived signals of disengagement.
Asked whether C-UAS training and systems like MEROPS will expand to other NATO nations, both officers said efforts are already underway.
Brig. Gen. King said multiple allies are pursuing MEROPS or similar technologies, some through their own national programs and others in partnership with the US.
Col. Hill added that scaling is now a deliberate part of the acquisition process.
“We’re linking forward innovation efforts with project managers who have the resources for large-scale procurement,” he said. “The goal is not just to demonstrate capability but to outfit larger US and allied units.”
He noted growing cooperation with NATO’s UK-led Task Force X, which is conducting similar technology-acceleration programs.
When asked about drone incursions across eastern Romania, Brig. Gen. King declined to discuss specific incidents but said they illustrate why NATO is rushing to expand detection networks and deploy affordable interceptors.
“We already have significant capability to detect these drones,” he said. “What we’re doing now is expanding that capability and adding cheaper, mobile effectors.”
Data-driven warfare, lessons from Ukraine
Both officers said Ukraine’s experience is driving the rapid evolution of C-UAS tactics.
Brig. Gen. King cited a “21- to 30-day technology cycle,” meaning any new drone capability introduced on the battlefield is often countered within weeks, pushing continuous innovation.
New software-driven integrations – previously requiring multiple hardware components – are now executed virtually using cloud-based networks that allow data to flow across US and NATO classifications.
Global expansion
Col. Hill said GTEAD will replicate its European model in the Indo-Pacific beginning in January, supporting US and partner forces in Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
“Everything happening on the eastern flank has applicability elsewhere,” he said.
Future demonstrations will broaden beyond X-UAS to ground autonomy, air-launched effects, and integrated offensive-defensive fires – all aimed at lowering the cost per engagement and increasing resiliency against near-peer adversaries.
Both officers said that integrating soldiers earlier in the acquisition process remains essential. “Changes made in days cost thousands,” Col. Hill said. “Changes made in months cost millions.”
Brig. Gen. King said the pace of progress over the past two weeks showed how quickly NATO can adapt.
“This is about optimizing existing capabilities and adding new ones,” he concluded: “The threat is evolving – and so are we.”