The Pentagon is fast-tracking the creation of advanced drone interceptors, naming Anduril Industries and Zone 5 Technologies to enhance prototype systems built to take down large, military-grade drones. Selected under the Defense Innovation Unit’s Counter NEXT program, the firms are advancing commercially derived air-defense technologies against Group 3 and larger drones—heavy platforms capable of surveillance or weapon delivery. Chosen from over 65 applicants, both completed early design and test phases within a year. DIU has now issued further funding to refine prototypes, integrate with partner combat systems, and conduct safety trials ahead of live-fire testing in mid-2026. The interceptors feature modular, open-architecture systems and off-the-shelf components to cut costs and address supply chain risks. The program aims to fill gaps in current air defense—such as costly interceptors and slow reload times—while ensuring network compatibility. Counter NEXT complements broader U.S. defense efforts, including laser-based and helicopter-mounted counter-UAS programs, to provide layered protection against increasingly capable unmanned threats.
