Iris Sensor: Anduril's Answer to Airborne Defense Against Swarms

Anduril introduces the Iris sensor suite for passive aerial imaging and targeting operations.

Key things to know:

• The ongoing Ukraine conflict showcases the strategic advantages of drone technology in modern warfare, emphasiing the growing threat of drone swarms.
• Anduril Industries introduces Iris, a revolutionary sensor capable of detecting and tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously, marking a significant advancement in defence technology.
• Commercial drones, modified for combat, play a pivotal role in Ukraine's defence strategy, demonstrating innovation in warfare tactics.
• The future of drone defence will heavily rely on electronic systems, including AI and advanced sensors, to address the challenges posed by autonomous swarms and ensure security.

As Ukraine demonstrates the benefits of drone technology in warfare, the risk of drone swarms continues to increase. Recognising this danger, defence contractor Anduril Industries has announced its latest sensor, which it claims is capable of detecting hundreds of targets simultaneously. What challenges do drone swarms present, what did Anduril Industries develop, and how will drone defence depend on electronics in the future?

What challenges do drone swarms present?

Warfare has seen leaps and bounds in technological advancement ever since the invention of the bow and arrow (which incidentally was independently developed throughout almost all known civilisations of the past). In fact, a significant amount of technological advances that we enjoy today directly result in military funding, making the defence industry more important than many would initially think.

But with each advancement in the field of warfare, new challenges that those advancements bring become increasingly more complex. For example, the invention of gunpowder made armour and swords irrelevant, the introduction of artillery made close combat pointless, and the introduction of the nuclear bomb outright ruled out traditional warfare between superpowers. 

However, a new threat has begun to emerge, demonstrated by the ongoing Ukraine war; drones. Despite being a fraction of the size of its adversary, having a much smaller economy, and nowhere near the same number of troop reserves, Ukraine has not only managed to hold back Russia’s invasion but even pushed them back in key places, and this success heavily comes down to Ukraine’s use of cheap drones.

The Transformation of Commercial Drones into Combat Tools

Contrary to employing high-end military specifications, Ukraine has innovatively adapted widely available commercial drones for combat. These drones, which could typically be found in a local high-street shop, have been modified with simple yet effective enhancements. For instance, the addition of a flashlight mod has transformed these seemingly innocuous drones into formidable weapons of destruction, a tactic vividly illustrated in the famous Russian Turret Toss competition.

Even if these drones aren’t being used directly as lethal weapons, the ability to see the battlefield from above in real time is invaluable to soldiers on the ground. In fact, the most important use of drones in this conflict thus far has been for artillery correction, especially with aiding HIMARS rockets.

However, the introduction of drones on the battlefield has also presented serious challenges that will likely come to fruition in the next decade, autonomous swarms. If combined with autonomous software, it might become possible to create drone swarms that work together to attack targets, and because such drones would be relatively low cost, large deployments would be relatively simple to establish.

The Dual-Edged Sword of Drone Technology in Warfare

Such swarms could be used to overload weapon defence platforms, thus allowing missiles and artillery to penetrate defensive layers, and could also be used to pepper large areas with small cluster-like munitions. Furthermore, such technology (being easily adoptable in a civilian environment) could be used for terrorist activities in urban areas, disabling power and services and even attacking individual people indiscriminately.

Trying to defend against such swarms introduces all kinds of challenges, including the need to detect each and every target. While RF interference can be used to take down individual drones, the high number of targets in a swarm may make this an impossibility. 

Anduril Industries Announces New Sensor For Swarm Targets

Recently, an up-and-coming defence contractor, Anduril Industries, announced that it has developed a new series of sensors that it claims can detect hundreds of simultaneous targets. According to Anduril, the new sensors will also be suitable for use in unmanned operations as a result of the lower prices, something which will massively benefit large-scale drone deployments. 

In a significant leap forward for defence technology, Anduril Industries has unveiled Iris, a cutting-edge sensor family designed for passive airborne imaging and targeting. This innovation represents a pivotal advancement in the detection and tracking of multiple targets within contested environments, showcasing the potential of autonomous systems to reshape modern warfare strategies. Iris's introduction underscores the critical role of electronic engineering in developing solutions that address the complexities of contemporary and future battlefields.

Iris Sensor: Redefining Aerial Surveillance and Defence

The new series, called Iris, supports numerous modes, including search and track, missile warning, visualisation, and targeting. While images of the sensor in operation were shared, the exact aircraft that was using the platform could not be identified (for security reasons). However, what is known is that the sensor is an electro-optical infrared system (EO/IR), which is a passive sensor. 

Such sensors have been available for use in aircraft for decades, but unlike typical offerings, the Iris sensor utilises pixel-level processing to help reduce noise while simultaneously increasing resolution. Furthermore, with the help of AI, tracking is significantly improved, allowing for many targets to be tracked even in cluttered environments. This pixel-level tracking technology was developed by researchers from MITs Lincoln Lab, which was eventually acquired by Anduril for the Iris sensor range. 

Iris leverages Anduril's proprietary Computational Pixel Imager (CPI) technology, which integrates processors within each pixel to significantly reduce noise and enhance detection capabilities at extreme ranges. This technological marvel, underpinned by real-time AI for detection and classification, autonomously identifies and tracks hundreds of objects, enabling operators to discern potential threats amidst overwhelming environmental noise. Such advancements highlight the intersection of software and hardware innovation, driving forward the capabilities of defence systems in identifying and neutralizing threats efficiently.

How will drone defence depend on electronics in the future?

It is clear that drone technology will drive warfare, something which has been clearly demonstrated by both the Ukraine war and the recent attacks by Houthis in the Middle East. Because of this, the need for drone defence systems will become imperative, but due to the small size of drones (and their potential for vast numbers), traditional defence technologies will not be able to suffice. 

The evolution of drone defence mechanisms underscores the increasing reliance on sophisticated electronic systems capable of processing vast datasets, recognising targets with precision, and operating with a high degree of autonomy. The integration of advanced sensors like Iris into defence strategies exemplifies the shift towards leveraging software-defined, hardware-enabled systems that can adapt rapidly to emerging threats. This approach not only enhances the responsiveness of defence platforms but also ensures their longevity through continuous software updates and improvements.

Advancing Defence with Next-Generation Electronic Systems

As such, advanced electronic systems will become imperative in future defence platforms, being able to work with massive datasets, recognise targets automatically, and even operate autonomously. Such systems will be reliant on ultra-fast electronic systems, including AI processors and high-resolution sensors, which will also need to be networked to other systems (such as fire control platforms).

If such drone swarms cannot be safely shot down using munitions (such as in an urban environment), then more exotic forms of defence will be needed. For example, electronic warfare systems utilising high-energy EM waves can be used to either interfere with control signals or outright fry onboard electronics. Another solution would be the use of lasers, which are not only cheap to operate but can do so at great speed and accuracy. 

Overall, drones present a serious challenge in the field of warfare, and future defence systems will be heavily reliant on advanced electronic solutions.

In conclusion, the deployment of sensors like Iris by Anduril Industries marks a transformative step in the defence sector, marrying the prowess of electronic engineering with artificial intelligence to forge systems that are not only reactive but predictive in nature. As the landscape of warfare evolves, the fusion of these technologies will be paramount in safeguarding security and peace, demonstrating the indispensable role of innovation in crafting the next generation of defence solutions.