Leonardo DRS sets up UK subsidiary and launches tactical radar production

Leonardo DRS has established a UK subsidiary and opened local manufacturing for its tactical radars, giving the US-based defence company a production base in Britain amid growing demand for counter-drone and air defence systems.

The new DRS UK operation will manufacture radars used to detect, track and classify threats including unmanned aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars. The systems can be used for counter-UAS, air defence, force protection and active protection applications.

The company has not disclosed the location of the new facility, the value of its investment or the number of jobs it expects to create.

DRS UK will support British defence customers and system integrators while also acting as a “strategic hub” for the company’s tactical radar business across Europe.

The move comes as the UK puts greater emphasis on counter-UAS and integrated air and missile defence capabilities, with the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrating the growing threat posed by drones and other relatively low-cost airborne weapons.

UK production brings DRS closer to customers

Leonardo DRS said more than 10,000 of its radar panels are already deployed worldwide with the US Armed Forces, NATO allies and other international customers.

Its tactical expeditionary radars can be installed on vehicles or operated independently. According to the company, the systems use automated signal processing to handle hundreds of targets simultaneously and can detect and classify very small drones.

“Establishing DRS UK and launching a full local tactical radar capability strengthens our ability to support customers and partners with the proximity, responsiveness and manufacturing capacity needed to meet evolving operational requirements,” said Leonardo DRS president and chief executive John Baylouny.

“This investment enables closer collaboration with UK industry partners and integrators to deliver counter-UAS, air defence and force protection capabilities that help protect the warfighter.”

The establishment of local production also gives Leonardo DRS a stronger position from which to pursue future British and European programmes. The company said the UK operation would allow it to work more closely with domestic suppliers and system integrators.

Max Cohen, senior vice president and general manager overseeing the company’s tactical radar portfolio, said the investment would strengthen UK manufacturing and supply-chain capacity.

“By establishing this local capacity, we are creating high-value engineering and manufacturing opportunities while positioning DRS UK to support future export growth and deliver greater value to customers across the UK and Europe,” Cohen said.

Counter-drone demand grows

The investment comes as European armed forces increase spending on systems capable of detecting and defeating small drones.

Leonardo DRS’s radar technology is already used as part of counter-UAS systems in the United States. Its portfolio includes radars integrated with vehicle-mounted systems combining sensors with kinetic and non-kinetic effectors.

The company’s Single Vehicle Counter-UAS Stryker, for example, combines radar and other sensors with Coyote interceptors and a 30mm weapon, while another Stryker configuration incorporates a high-energy laser.

The new British facility is focused on the radar element rather than production of those complete US counter-UAS systems.
Local manufacture could nevertheless allow the sensors to be integrated with equipment from UK and European suppliers for future requirements.

Leonardo DRS said the facility would give it greater manufacturing flexibility and strengthen supply-chain resilience while providing a base for future exports.

The company has not announced a UK radar order alongside the creation of DRS UK. The immediate significance of the move is therefore industrial as Leonardo DRS is putting manufacturing capability in Britain ahead of the programmes it hopes to support, rather than supplying the UK solely from its existing overseas production base.