--- title: "Army wants to test and field new drone defenses in under six months" description: "The Army plans to test new counter-drone defenses in Morocco in 2027, aiming to get approved systems to soldiers within 180 days." date: "2026-10-21" modified: "2026-10-21" authors: - name: "Austin Campbell" job_title: "Contributing reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/austin-campbell.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-counter-drone-defenses-morocco/" categories: - "Africa" - "Aircraft" - "Army" - "Around the World" - "Drones" - "Military Branches" - "News" - "Tech & Tactics" --- # Army wants to test and field new drone defenses in under six months ![U.S. Army Spc. Liam Gallagher, an infantryman with Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), operates a drone during African Lion 26 at Cap Draa, Tan-Tan, Morocco, April 24, 2026. The exercise served as a multidomain training and experimentation center - Morocco, where service members tested artificial intelligence-powered and autonomous platforms, remote systems, and emerging technologies across attack, defense and mission command operations. The experimentation accelerated target detection, shortened decision timelines and delivered cost-effective warfighting solutions aligned with African partner priorities. AL26 is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nations and global allies. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, AL26 involves over 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samuel Wagner)]() *A soldier operates a drone during African Lion 26 at Cap Draa, Tan-Tan, Morocco, April 24, 2026. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samuel Wagner.* The Army plans to test up to 15 new drone defense systems in Morocco next spring, with the goal of getting the top performers into soldiers' hands within six months afterwards, Army officials told Task & Purpose. The tests will focus on protecting temporary command posts and remote military positions from enemy drones, including small aircraft that can be difficult to detect when not transmitting radio signals. An Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the military plans to test equipment that can detect and identify small, radio-silent drones from nearly a mile away, day or night. The Army also wants systems capable of tracking large drones from 5 miles away and smaller ones from close to 2 miles. The military plans to evaluate as many as 15 technologies, including equipment that detects approaching drones, weapons that physically destroy them, systems that disable without firing weapons, and protective measures designed to reduce the damage they can cause. The tests come as Army officials warn that potential adversaries are finding new ways to use commercially available drones, creating additional challenges for troops operating in remote areas with limited communications infrastructure. “Our adversaries are rapidly adapting commercial drones, and Africa’s dispersed, bandwidth-limited environment demands low-cost, scalable systems that work in degraded conditions,” an Army spokesperson told Task & Purpose. The Army did not say if the planned tests are directly related to the ongoing conflict with Iran, but said its efforts to develop new military technology draw on lessons from different regions. “Accelerated Capability Events draw cross-theater lessons and threat trends while remaining tailored to each geographical command’s priorities,” a spokesperson for the Army's Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate said. The Army will begin testing the equipment in February and March 2027 in Tan-Tan, Morocco, where the Army has said it plans to build a “drone academy” for regional allies. followed by additional evaluations in April and May during African Lion 2027, a major U.S.-led military exercise in Africa. Officials said the 180-day timeline refers to getting approved equipment into soldiers' hands after evaluation, rather than simply completing the testing process. After the assessments, Army officials will review how the equipment performed and consider feedback from soldiers before deciding which technologies to purchase. ## Author Austin Campbell is an investigative reporter covering the U.S. military, national security, foreign policy and federal accountability. His reporting has uncovered previously unreleased military death data, documented nearly $1.8 million in questionable Air Force procurement spending, and exposed institutional failures across the military and federal government. His investigations have been cited multiple times by members of Congress and prompted congressional oversight of federal agencies. His work has appeared in The Intercept, Military.com, and Responsible Statecraft. A former U.S. Air Force aircraft armament specialist, Campbell holds a master's degree from UNC Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism and Media.