Germany’s ASUL Counter-UAS Gets Hardkill Upgrade to Defeat Drones
The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has awarded a contract to ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, a subsidiary of Hensoldt, to integrate kinetic effectors into the “Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System” (ASUL). According to a notice published on the European procurement platform TED, this upgrade is intended to expand the system’s capability to defeat small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) through physical means in addition to existing electronic countermeasures.
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| Credit: Bundeswehr/Dirk Bannert |
The ASUL system, also referred to as AZUL in earlier reports, was developed by ESG to provide stationary protection for Bundeswehr bases against hostile drones. It merges radar, optical sensors, and RF direction finders for detection and identification, while employing electromagnetic interference transmitters to disrupt control signals over several kilometers. These jamming devices represent the system’s current softkill capability, while hardkill features are being pursued as part of ongoing modernization.
Plans for further enhancement include the integration of physical destruction measures. Concepts under consideration involve pairing the Hensoldt Spexer 2000 radar with missile-based interceptors, thereby enabling ASUL to neutralize aerial threats through direct kinetic engagement. This development is intended to complement the existing electronic warfare elements and provide layered defense against increasingly sophisticated unmanned platforms.
The system is built around two transportable containers, one measuring ten feet and housing sensor equipment, and another twenty-foot unit containing the command post and jamming systems. This modular design allows rapid relocation and deployment, making ASUL suitable for protecting forward operating bases and other temporary installations.
Extendable radar units, day and night camera systems, and RF direction finders are employed to track drones and identify their communication links, ensuring accurate classification before countermeasures are applied.
Reports from last year indicated that ten weapon stations manufactured by Kongsberg in Norway, originally procured under the discontinued “qualified air defense” program, will be repurposed for ASUL. These stations, equipped with integrated grenade launchers, are expected to serve as kinetic energy weapons, providing the system with a hardkill option alongside its electronic jamming capability.
The integrated approach of ASUL combines detection, identification, and neutralization within a single portable system. By merging radar, cameras, and RF sensors with both softkill and planned hardkill effectors, the Bundeswehr aims to establish a comprehensive counter-drone solution capable of addressing the growing threat posed by small unmanned aerial systems in operational environments.
Written by Henry Wan
Henry Wan is an independent defense journalist with over 14 years of experience reporting on military affairs and security issues. He has covered defense strategies, military technology, and geopolitical developments with a consistent focus on accuracy, independence, and a comprehensive understanding of global security matters.