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2024-10-11

MARSS Takes Drone Defence to New Heights

Innovation is key to staying ahead of evolving threats, says Johannes Pinl

By Sakha Pramod

Pinl explained how MARSS’ AI-powered NiDAR platform, hit-to-kill Interceptor drone, and sensor-agnostic solutions were poised to reshape battlefield defence strategies, ensuring swift, cost-effective responses to evolving drone threats.

Excerpts from the interview:

What are the key innovations that MARSS showcased at SOFEX 2024?

What we are witnessing is the development of machine-versus-machine warfare, where autonomous systems are fighting against other autonomous systems.

Drone attacks have become a significant focus, with autonomous drones, for example, capable of attacking sites where a USD 500 drone can defeat a tank that could cost millions. This is the new trend.

Most armed forces today are not prepared for this shift. Every day, we see something new happening in Ukraine, with new technology being used.

What we are presenting is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered counter-drone CUAS system. It includes autonomous detection, classification, and tracking - and will even recommend a response to a human operator, who always remains in-the-loop prior to the use of any countermeasure.

The best way to safeguard the crucial sites is through autonomous C2 defence systems; there cannot be any human intervention thinking for 10 minutes during the detection, classification and tracking stages. The incoming target does not wait; it operates like a computer and makes decisions in milliseconds. We can no longer afford long decision-making times - which are dramatically reduced by NiDAR.

Our AI-powered solution allows us to detect drones early on, even when they are far away.

For instance, when protecting sensitive sites like nuclear power stations, a small approaching drone could be mistaken for a bird, complicating identification.

Our AI system, which has learned over the last 10 years, can differentiate between a bird flapping its wings and a fixed-wing drone or helicopter. Based on this classification, the system recommends one or two countermeasures for the human operator to approve.

Initially, we start with jamming. The latest systems we deployed against jamming were developed about five or six years ago in the Middle East, and our first jamming attempts were successful.

However, as we defeated several incoming drones, the enemy adapted and began using fully autonomous systems that do not rely on GPS.

Our goal is to intercept threats cost-effectively. For instance, intercepting a USD 20,000 Shahed 136 drone with a missile costing USD 100,000 is unsustainable. Our Interceptor drone, showcased at SOFEX, uses the same technology as the target, is fast, electrically powered, and contains no explosives, allowing deployment in sensitive areas. It neutralises threats with kinetic energy, aborts if necessary, and is reusable, making it cost-effective.

How does MARSS’s NiDAR platform ensure it remains effective in adapting to new challenges?

Classification of targets is a significant challenge because they are often small and can hide within the noise of birds, trees, and other environmental factors, making identification difficult. AI is very effective in countering this noise by picking out the specific features we have trained it to recognise. Our software engineers have been training the AI for 10 years, and we installed our counter-drone system early on. We collected a vast amount of data from drones, which allows us to train the AI effectively.

AI is very capable, but it needs data first; without data, we can’t do anything. AI classification is one of its strengths, and another is automation in the decision-making process. These threats come in quickly, and we need to make decisions automatically. That’s why AI can assist users by activating the appropriate responses.

How does MARSS’ sensor-agnostic approach benefit clients?

Most players are hardware manufacturers who build radars, tanks, infrared cameras, and other proprietary systems. The problem is that clients become stuck with their own hardware. Technology is evolving so quickly that hardware often cannot keep up with the latest advancements that emerge. They may need to upgrade again and again.

MARSS adopts a sensor-agnostic approach, avoiding reliance on a single radar or hardware type, allowing integration with any sensor on the market. As a software-centric company, it uses AI to quickly integrate new radars and monitoring systems, often within hours. This flexibility keeps the systems current with the latest technologies, as demonstrated by frequent updates in Ukraine.

How is your company tailoring RADiRguard units to secure Middle East sites?

The RADiRguard is an intelligent perimeter surveillance solution for high-security sites, offering proactive 24/7 monitoring regardless of weather. Unlike traditional CCTV, it provides autonomous detection, tracking, and decision support. The system alerts for unusual walking patterns of unfamiliar individuals. For larger areas, autonomous solar-powered units eliminate extensive cabling and operate in temperatures over 50°C.

How does MARSS ensure that its solutions remain at the forefront of defence innovation?

Seventy per cent of our team is dedicated to R&D, ensuring continuous innovation with monthly software updates. Our ability to quickly adopt new technologies is essential to stay ahead of rapidly advancing adversaries.

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