The BRAWLR air defense system will be integrated into naval drones for the mass destruction of 'Shaheds' after testing in Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
The American BRAWLR system is being integrated into naval drones for the mass downing of Shaheds. The platform carries up to 46 missiles and has already undergone combat trials.
The U.S. military is integrating the BRAWLR air defense system into maritime drones, which will allow for the effective destruction of dozens of "Shahed"-type drones in a single mission. This was reported by Defense Express, according to UNN.
Details
As the publication notes, the BRAWLR complex previously underwent combat testing, likely in Ukraine. According to the developer company Sierra Nevada, the system was deployed in one of the countries and managed to shoot down over 400 drones.
This refers to a flexible air defense platform that can use various types of missiles – from APKWS to AIM-120 and even R-27.
Maritime drones receive full-fledged air defense functions
During the Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) exercises held in late April, the U.S. military demonstrated a CUSV maritime drone equipped with the BRAWLR system.
In the presented configuration, the drone is equipped with a launcher for 23 APKWS II missiles, as well as additional launchers. In the expanded version – the so-called "beast mode" – the system can carry up to 46 missiles.
Drones with BRAWLR are capable of shooting down dozens of targets in a single mission
According to estimates, such a configuration allows maritime drones to perform the functions of mobile air defense and destroy a significant number of aerial targets during a single combat sortie.
Defense Express notes that this could become an effective response to Russia's massive use of long-range strike drones.
According to the manufacturer, setting up the system takes about 10 minutes, and operator training takes approximately one week.