MyDefence sets out its C-UAS offering for the UK

MyDefence, a company based in Denmark that provides technology to counter uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS), announced the establishment of a new United Kingdom branch on August 14. The move is intended to provide the British armed forces with direct access to the company’s technological resources and operational expertise.

MyDefence specialises in producing modular, portable and vehicle-mounted solutions designed to detect, track and defeat hostile drones. The company states that its technology has been deployed by military forces in Ukraine, the United States, and Australia. The UK programme will be led by Liam Hutcheson, a former British Army officer with experience in urgent capability acquisition, the press release states. The establishment of the UK branch reinforces broader European alignment on defence technology, with the company noting that its systems are designed to be NATO-interoperable.

“It is a really exciting time for UK MOD; the momentum from the Strategic Defence Review and the anticipation of the Defence Investment Plan means the timing is perfect for MyDefence to enter the UK market. MyDefence has demonstrated that it can field proven systems at speed on NATO operations – a capability I am enormously proud to bring to the UK,” Liam added.

The Soldier Kit from MyDefence is described as a combat-proven, wearable counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) designed specifically for military and special operations forces. It integrates both detection and jamming capabilities into a single package with four key components: 

1. Wingman: This is the wearable radio frequency (RF) sensor for drone detection. It can be worn discreetly under a jacket, attached to tactical gear via MOLLE straps, or placed in a backpack. It alerts the operator to drone threats through sound, vibration, and an LED, and can be used as a standalone device. The Wingman weighs 0.84 kg (1.85 lbs).
2. Pitbull: This is a compact and effective jammer designed to neutralize drone threats. It can function autonomously when paired with the Wingman, automatically jamming unauthorized signals upon detection. It can also be used in a manual mode for constant jamming. The Pitbull weighs 1.3 kg (2.87 lbs) and can disrupt drones from up to 1000 meters away.
3. Active Antenna 100: A 360° quad-band external omnidirectional antenna.
4. ATAK Integration: The system is designed to integrate with the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK), allowing for real-time situational awareness, data sharing, and remote control of the devices. The integration provides a visual representation of drone movements and operational zones.

Some elements of the product sound similar to the Obriy FPV detector from Kara Dag Technologies in Ukraine, which detects the RF signals from a nearby drone and provides the operator with an intercepted video feed of the FPV camera. This allows them to assess whether or not they are the target of the drone and act accordingly. 

The growing counter-drone market

In the broader market for counter-drone systems, MyDefence is entering a field with several existing companies that have also offered solutions to the British market. Among these are Allen-Vanguard, which teamed with Metis Aerospace to provide mobile RF counter-drone solutions for vehicles, and OpenWorks Engineering, a British firm that develops the SkyWall family of C-UAS systems. Metis Aerospace has recently secured a contract for its Skyperion drone detection system from a NATO state, and has more than 80 systems in use with NATO states globally. 

The UK Ministry of Defence has outlined a number of requirements for its GBAD programme, which seeks to acquire a new vehicle-mounted short-range air defence (SHORAD) solution. A key part of this programme is the capability to counter small uncrewed aerial systems. At the International Armoured Vehicles conference in January, a partnership between Moog and Supacat presented a potential solution with the integration of Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform onto a Supacat High Mobility Transporter. This would provide another layer of drone defence for deployed British forces. 

Company profile: MyDefence

MyDefence was established in 2013 by former Danish military officers with engineering backgrounds to provide defensive solutions against drones. Since then it has become a trusted supplier to the US Army and other militaries around the world, including a $26 million order from the US Army in July this year. The company’s revenue for 2024 doubled from €7.77 million to €16.21 million, and its team grew to 83. Bridgepoint Development Capital IV (BDC), a fund focused on investing in mid-market growth businesses across Europe, became a majority shareholder in June 2024, for an undisclosed amount. The additional liquidity provided by Bridgepoint allowed MyDefence to expand its presence in the US and Europe with new production, R&D, and sales offices. That same investment is supporting the company’s expansion into the UK.

Calibre comment

In terms of solutions carried by British soldiers themselves, the British Army has procured the SMASH Smart Weapon Sight Fire Control System for drone defence. 225 of the sights were ordered for £4.6 million in 2023 to equip the assault rifles of the UK’s very high readiness units. SMASH provides fire control solutions that can significantly improve the accuracy of small arms fire against drones, potentially making each soldier of a section an effective last line of defence. It is becoming apparent that a form of layered defence that is specific to drones will be a common approach for dismounted forces, but there are many challenges ahead. Simply testing a system like Wingman in the UK will require special permission to be secured from a range of civil and military safety agencies, and using Pitbull will mean many more. There are growing pathways to rapid procurement for these types of capability throughout Europe and the UK, however, which may see some of the regulatory hurdles overcome in the near future. 

More broadly, MyDefence is one of many companies that have identified a significant addressable market in the UK, which is set to dramatically increase its defence spending in the next few years. This increase has brought companies like Applied Intuition,  Northrop Grumman, and Nurol Makina to the UK’s shores. There is now something of an expectation that contracts will follow the appeals of successive UK governments for private investment in the country’s defence industry.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on August 19, 2025. Credit for the lead image is MyDefence, it shows elements of the Soldier Kit.