The rise of drone warfare in global combat zones has led to a significant evolution in military strategies, enhancing measures to safeguard national borders and military personnel.
The vast array of unmanned systems within enemy inventories poses an additional hurdle for warfighters, who must address threats from both large, sophisticated unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and smaller, commercially available drones that are weaponized for single-use attacks on personnel and critical infrastructure.
One air defense system alone is insufficient to mitigate all drone threats present in an operational area. Similarly, employing the same kinetic approach for a large unmanned system and a low-cost first-person view (FPV) drone is impractical. A multi-layered strategy is essential for effectively countering this evolving form of warfare.
In response to this pressing need, warfighters in forward-deployed settings will soon have access to the Wraith Shield™ software developed by L3Harris Technologies. This innovative capability transforms widely utilized tactical radios across U.S., NATO, Five Eyes, and allied forces into mobile, AI-enabled radio frequency (RF) sensing and effects platforms that offer robust defense against small drone incursions.
“Wraith Shield exemplifies L3Harris’ commitment to innovation as the Trusted Disruptor within the industry,” stated Chris Aebli, President of Mission Critical Communications at L3Harris. “It allows operators to disrupt hostile drone signals directly via their radios, enabling personnel to neutralize low-cost unmanned systems quickly and efficiently.”
The Wraith® waveform, the first wideband, rapid frequency-hopping tactical waveform, was developed by L3Harris in the early 2020s and is currently in use in operations where communications are at risk from complex electronic warfare scenarios. Building upon this waveform, L3Harris’s Rapid Prototyping Group initiated the creation of the Wraith Shield upgrade last year to counter enemy deployments of smaller, commercial drones targeting critical assets.
The Wraith Shield capability is set to be deployed on the RF-9820S Compact Team Radio (also known as the AN/PRC-171) and its embeddable counterpart, the RF-9820S-ER, later this year. Additionally, it will be available as a future upgrade for all Wraith-capable tactical radios, including the over 100,000 systems currently fielded by military forces, such as the AN/PRC-158C, AN/PRC-163, and AN/PRC-167 models.
A Converged Solution for Layered Air Defense
By incorporating AI-driven radio frequency (RF) sensing, the Wraith Shield capability introduces a radio-as-a-sensor model that integrates seamlessly into distributed, data-centric networks—an industry first, as noted by Rob Mariuz, Director of Product Management, L3Harris.
“As an industry partner to U.S. and coalition forces, our primary mission is to protect ground operators while providing reliable, secure, and assured communication solutions,” emphasized Mariuz. “The new Wraith Shield capability has been specifically designed to enhance existing air defense systems by embedding thousands of distributed sensors.”
The Wraith Shield software can function independently to counter drone threats using commercial command links. Furthermore, it is engineered for straightforward integration with various counter-Unmanned Systems (UxS) solutions already available in the user’s arsenal, enabling a comprehensive air defense strategy where Wraith Shield can target smaller drones by disrupting their control, allowing more advanced systems like VAMPIRE™ and Drone Guardian® to address larger threats effectively.
Visualizing the Small Drone Threat Environment
To augment the Wraith Shield system, L3Harris partnered with DataShapes AI, a company specializing in edge-native AI for electromagnetic spectrum awareness. This collaboration has resulted in a visualization tool that empowers users to visually identify potential electromagnetic threats in their immediate environment.
DataShapes AI’s GlobalEdge platform processes distributed RF data into actionable intelligence, equipping warfighters to detect, classify, and respond to threats directly at the tactical edge without relying on centralized infrastructures.
Through DataShapes AI’s software, RF data from connected devices is categorized and presented on user devices, allowing operators to quickly identify aerial threats and react with precision.
“This innovation bridges the gap between detection and action, significantly enhancing battlefield survivability,” commented Paul Craft, President of DataShapes AI and former U.S. Army Chief of Cyber and Electronic Warfare. “By providing real-time visibility of the electromagnetic environment at the tactical level, we empower warfighters with essential situational awareness and the speed required to outpace adversaries in increasingly complex and contested arenas.”
A Novel Approach to Counter-UAS
“It effectively brings sensor technology to the forefront and the tactical edge since soldiers already possess body-worn communication systems,” remarked Tom Sheehan, Lead of Product Management at L3Harris. “Moreover, the frequency bands utilized are critical. The RF-9820S operates in the same bands commonly employed by most cost-effective FPV drones. Consequently, the personnel who would benefit the most from Wraith Shield are already equipped with the necessary tools to utilize it.”
With the introduction of the Wraith Shield capability, L3Harris is revolutionizing the functionality of tactical radios. This cutting-edge capability, rooted in proven communication systems and software-defined architectures, facilitates sensing and protection at the tactical edge where it is most essential. The scalable and fully-integrated Wraith Shield significantly enhances defense networks while ensuring that warfighters remain connected and secure amid the complexities of modern combat scenarios.
Source: L3Harris (2026-05-13)
