Cheaper Guns for Base Drone Defense

The U.

S. Air Force is seeking proposals for lightweight, modular gun systems that can rapidly defend permanent and austere overseas bases against Group 1 through Group 5 drones, drone swarms, and subsonic cruise missiles. The request emphasizes integrated radar and electro-optical, infrared, and radio-frequency sensors, sustained operations, resistance to saturation attacks, and affordable ammunition. It reflects a search for a lower-cost, more deployable layer of air defense following attacks on U.S. positions in the Middle East, but no purchase, caliber, or design has been selected.