BAE launches BATS to counter rising uncrewed drone threats

BAE Systems is developing a new counter-drone system that combines software, electronic warfare and kinetic measures, as militaries and critical infrastructure operators face more frequent drone incursions.

The project centres on the BAE Systems Anti Threat System (BATS), positioned as an alternative to relying mainly on expensive missiles to counter small uncrewed threats. Intended use cases include national borders, military equipment, airports and urban centres.

A UK-based engineering team began work on BATS in October 2025. The system is expected to be ready for testing as soon as next month, with live-fire trials planned for early summer.

System design

BATS uses a software-driven command-and-control decision engine and is designed to be scalable, with an open architecture.

The open architecture is intended to let customers integrate existing and future counter-drone tools, including sensors and effectors, and adapt the system to different use cases.

BATS is designed to detect, identify and defeat uncrewed threats, including drones and other uncrewed platforms, while keeping pace with rapid changes in tactics and payloads.

When deployed, it is intended to detect hostile activity early using multilayered sensors and to fuse intelligence into what BAE Systems calls a data core.

The system is also designed to identify and classify threat levels in real time, then provide decision support through command-and-control functions. It applies decision logic to help users choose the most appropriate response.

Threat picture

Counter-drone technology has become a focus area for defence suppliers as the use of commercially available drones expands. Incursions around airports and urban areas have increased scrutiny of civilian infrastructure vulnerabilities, while defence planners have highlighted the cost imbalance between low-cost drones and high-cost interceptors.

BAE Systems is pitching BATS as a response to that changing environment, aiming to reduce reliance on costly missiles for certain threats and instead offer a broader mix of detection, disruption and physical defeat options.

Andrea Thompson, Group Managing Director at BAE Systems' Digital Intelligence business, said the pace of change in uncrewed threats has been difficult for traditional systems to match.

"Drone incursions are a clear and present issue, putting citizens, military personnel and infrastructure at risk. The technology evolves faster than traditional defence systems can respond, with new behaviours, payloads and tactics emerging almost daily. That's why we're moving at pace to build a new system to support our customers in their efforts against this very urgent problem," said Thompson.

Digital Intelligence

BATS is being developed within BAE Systems' Digital Intelligence business, drawing on software expertise and input from specialists across the wider group.

The development team includes experts across air, land and sea domains, reflecting how counter-drone systems can draw on sensors and effectors from different parts of a force structure depending on the site and threat type.

BAE Systems says Digital Intelligence has more than 4,500 digital, cyber and intelligence experts across 13 countries. The wider group employs more than 110,000 people and operates in more than 40 countries.

Next, BATS will move into system testing, followed by live-fire trials in early summer as the programme shifts from development into evaluation.