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New US AI Weapons Can Destroy 50 Enemy Drones Without Firing a Shot

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Lockheed Martin has developed a new AI-based anti-drone system called Sanctum, capable of automatically detecting and neutralizing enemy drone swarms.
  • The system analyzes threats and predicts movements, allowing for rapid interception without firing conventional missiles.
  • Lockheed Martin is also developing MORFIUS, an interceptor drone using high-power microwave pulses, and adapting existing missiles like the Hellfire for drone defense.

American defense contractor Lockheed Martin has unveiled Sanctum, a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) powered anti-drone system designed to automatically hunt and destroy enemy drone swarms. This advanced system is engineered to confront the evolving threats posed by modern warfare, which increasingly relies on the deployment of numerous low-cost drones.

We've put a variety of technologies into our system.

— Jim TaicletCEO of Lockheed Martin, discussing the development of the Sanctum anti-drone system.

According to Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet, Sanctum can detect incoming drones, assess their threat level, and predict their movement trajectories before intercepting or disabling them. "We've put a variety of technologies into our system," Taiclet told FOX Business, emphasizing the system's capability to handle the complexities of drone swarm attacks. The AI integration allows air defense systems to operate more swiftly and efficiently against multiple targets simultaneously.

The technology is designed to face the threat of modern warfare, which is increasingly dominated by the use of cheap drones and swarm attacks by unmanned aircraft.

— Jim TaicletExplaining the rationale behind the development of advanced anti-drone systems.

Beyond Sanctum, Lockheed Martin is also developing MORFIUS, an interceptor drone that uses high-power microwave pulses to disable small enemy drones. This technology enables a single system to engage multiple drones in a single operation without expending conventional missiles. Taiclet highlighted this capability, stating, "The drones we build with AI allow us to attack up to 50 different drones in one mission without firing any weapons."

The AI system Sanctum allows air defense to work faster and more efficiently when facing multiple targets at once.

— Jim TaicletDescribing the operational advantages of the Sanctum system.

Lockheed Martin is collaborating with Nvidia, which supplies the graphics processing units (GPUs) essential for powering these AI-driven national security systems. The company is also exploring cost-effective solutions by modifying existing weaponry. For instance, the Hellfire missile, typically used for air-to-ground attacks, is being adapted into a ground-to-air interceptor for neutralizing enemy drones.

The drones we build with AI allow us to attack up to 50 different drones in one mission without firing any weapons.

— Jim TaicletHighlighting the capabilities of the MORFIUS interceptor drone.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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