The first passive counter-drone detection systems have been deployed at a British Army base, funded by UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) on behalf of Army Innovation. Project Halo Shield, initiated by the British Army’s Experimentation and Trials Group (ETG), transitioned from concept to operational capability at the Warminster garrison in under six months.
Two UK suppliers, Dedrone and Quell, delivered the systems, providing complementary radio frequency (RF) and optical detection technologies. Dedrone's C2 software solution integrates multiple sensor types, including RF sensors, to detect the signal between a drone and its operator. Quell supplied SkySpyke, an AI-enabled surveillance system that provides hemispheric sky coverage, detecting, tracking, and identifying airborne objects.
During the initial 17 days of live monitoring, the system recorded 29 drone position alerts, with detections up to 5km away. These detections did not present a threat to the base. The system was also tested using Army-flown drones to identify any weaknesses.
Project Halo Shield is now informing plans to expand passive drone detection across the wider defence estate, building on ETG’s network integration model.