The BAE Systems Anti Threat System (BATS) modular, software-driven counter-drone capability has successfully completed integration and deployment testing, the company announced on 14 July 2026.

A scalable counter-uncrewed threat system developed by BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, BATS is designed to detect, track, identify and defeat hostile drones, providing layered protection for military forces, critical infrastructure and other high-value assets.

Since initial concept, the BATS solution has advanced to field-based integration and deployment testing in just eight months: an accelerated timeline that BAE Systems says reflects the urgency of countering increasingly sophisticated uncrewed threats on the battlefield.

Conducted in conjunction with MSI-Defence Systems, the test integrated its firing technology to track threats at a secure testing site in Norfolk, successfully proving BATS’ modular, software-defined approach to countering uncrewed threats. During testing, the team also successfully demonstrated the ability to rapidly deploy, dismantle and re-establish BATS in a new location, “proving it can keep pace with the demands of the modern battlefield”.

The test validated data capture and analysis to enable a quick and accurate response to uncrewed systems at the test site. It also demonstrated how the system is designed to adapt to changes as they happen on the battlefield, fusing intelligence with rapid decision making to support operators in detecting, identifying and responding to drone threats with precision.

Following the success of integration and deployment testing, the programme now moves into its next phase with live trials later this summer. These trials will incorporate both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures for the first time, marking a key step for demonstrating how BATS can address uncrewed threats with a variety of responses.