US Covert Air Defense System Tested In Ukraine
- 5.02.2026, 8:07
It is capable of greatly enhancing aerial defense.
The United States is preparing for the possible deployment of a new mobile drone countermeasures system that could significantly strengthen units' defense against airborne threats and change the approach to fighting drones at the tactical level.
This is reported by The War Zone.
A new UAV counter-UAV system for the U.S. Marine Corps
The system in question is the advanced Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire (DASH), which is very likely one of the modifications of the Tempest anti-aircraft missile system first unveiled last fall.
American defense company V2X may receive a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps to supply this mobile system designed to combat unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to published information from the USMC Systems Command, the system will be equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, but the exact configuration and technical specifications are not officially disclosed at the moment.
The capabilities and application format of the DASH system
It is known that the main task of the Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire will be the detection, identification, escort and subsequent neutralization of small drones.
The anti-drone system is to be delivered in a highly mobile version, which will allow it to be used in dynamic combat conditions and to quickly change positions.
Purchase plans and delivery dates
The U.S. Marine Corps intends to purchase up to 50 DASH systems as part of its current plans. The first two systems are scheduled to be delivered by May 30 of this year, with the remaining 48 to be delivered no later than December.
The initial operational readiness is scheduled for fiscal year 2027, which begins Oct. 1 of this year. The contract itself is expected to be awarded as soon as possible.
Readiness Level and Linkage to Tempest
An important prerequisite is that the product be technologically ready at the TRL-9 level. This means that the system must be fully developed and prove its effectiveness under conditions close to real combat conditions.
In this context, it is worth recalling that V2X previously introduced the Tempest anti-aircraft missile system. This development was first shown in October 2025, and later there was information about its closed tests in Ukraine, where the complex was highlighted in one of the videos of the air command "Center".