UK-based engineers are rapidly developing a new way of tackling drone threats.

A team of UK-based engineers is developing a new way of eliminating hostile drones. The project is being funded and run by the country’s largest defence company, BAE Systems, which is leveraging its long-standing software expertise to create a cost-effective new system in just months, to address the growing threat posed to key civilian and military infrastructure.

The BAE Systems Anti Threat System, or ‘BATS’, will enable customers to reduce the use of costly missiles by deploying smart software, electronic warfare, and kinetic measures to tackle increasing drone incursion threats to national borders, military equipment, airports, and urban centres.

Work to produce BATS began in October 2025 and is expected to be ready for system testing as soon as next month, followed by live-fire trials in early Summer this year – representing rapid capability development to help meet customer demands.

“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.”