The US Army is preparing to test up to 15 counter-drone systems in Morocco in 2027 under a programme designed to speed the delivery of effective capabilities to frontline personnel. The initiative aims to move suitable technologies to soldiers within 180 days and address immediate gaps in protection against unmanned aerial systems. Two Army organisations—the Southern European Task Force–Africa and the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate—will coordinate the effort. Their work will focus on protecting forward command posts and other military operating sites from drone-related threats. The schedule calls for soldier-led demonstrations at Tan-Tan, in southwestern Morocco, during February and March 2027. Additional operational assessments are planned for April and May as part of African Lion 2027. The trials are intended to help the Army examine potential counter-unmanned aerial system solutions and determine their practical value in military environments. The emphasis on soldier participation and a compressed acquisition timeline reflects an effort to identify usable capabilities more quickly than traditional procurement approaches may allow. The supplied announcement does not identify the individual systems selected for evaluation or specify the final procurement decisions that may follow the demonstrations.
