The U.S. Army plans counter-drone field trials in Morocco in 2027, aiming to move validated systems to soldiers within 180 days. U.S. Army.
The planned trial
The U.S. Army said October 16 that Southern European Task Force, Africa and its Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate will run an accelerated capability event in Tan-Tan, Morocco. The focus is protecting early-entry command posts and operating locations against Group 1–3 small drones. Soldier-led demonstrations are planned for February and March 2027, followed by operational assessment during African Lion in April and May.
What will be evaluated
According to the Army, the event will examine an integrated fly-away kit alongside detection, kinetic defeat, nonkinetic defeat and passive-protection categories. Up to 15 solutions are expected to be validated with the Army’s fires acquisition organization as a transition partner. An open-spectrum, diverse-terrain setting gives evaluators conditions that may differ from crowded ranges in Europe or the United States.
The 180-day goal
The Army’s stated aim is to move successful technology into soldiers’ hands within 180 days. That is a target for an acquisition path, not evidence that any named system has already passed the coming tests or been purchased. Comparing sensors and effectors in the same exercise could expose integration problems, operator workload and performance limits earlier than isolated demonstrations.
What to watch next
The public account does not name vendors, contracts, prices or test metrics. The key follow-up will be whether the planned 2027 demonstrations occur, what criteria are used, and whether any solutions receive funded orders after operational assessment. Morocco’s role as host and the Army’s partnership framing are documented; individual equipment outcomes remain future decisions.
Share:
Ukraine Approves Drone Pilot for Medical Cargo
Extreme Weather FPV Flying: Cold Battery Management & Thermal Insulation