Complex anti-drone system ARES shield

ARES-SHIELD is a modular SHORAD/VSHORAD air and ground defense system developed by KolArms s.r.o., built around a networked, vehicle-based architecture that combines detection, command-and-control (C2), and modular fire units into one integrated solution. The system is designed to provide highly effective protection of military forces, critical infrastructure, and strategic assets against today’s rapidly evolving threat spectrum.

ARES-SHIELD integrates 3D surveillance radars, including future-ready quantum radar concepts, EO/IR and electro-optical sensors, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities such as jammers and GPS denial modules, while also incorporating external data sources. This ensures full-cycle capability for target detection, tracking, identification (IFF) and coordinated network-centric engagement.

The fire units are vehicle-mounted, highly mobile, and fully configurable, supporting small- and medium-caliber air defense weapon systems from 12.7 mm up to 30 mm. Long-term development is a key element of the platform: hybrid and missile-based solutions are already under preparation for future integration. The system has been engineered around a dual-layer countermeasure concept:

Soft-kill (electronic disruption / deception)
Hard-kill (physical destruction)

Designed with NATO interoperability, export readiness, and long-term modernization in mind, ARES-SHIELD delivers a flexible, scalable, and future-proof air defense solution tailored for modern battlefield requirements.

ARES-SHIELD is capable of countering fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and drone swarms, low-flying threats, and cruise missiles, across very short, short, and medium engagement ranges, while maintaining full all-weather, day/night, and network-oriented operational capability.

Individual tower equipment

Camera-based recognition and tracking system with detection and recognition range up to 2000 m / the recognition system is primarily configured for detection of flying objects and vehicles /
Acoustic drone detector / ideal for detecting the position of a drone controlled via optical cable or outside the radar detection field /. When using a standalone tower, azimuth position accuracy is within 1.5 degrees; with at least three towers in use, position is determined via GPS with accuracy within 11 m
Mini X-band fire-control radar for target detection and position acquisition in adverse weather conditions, with maximum power up to 200 mW and detection range up to 1000 m
Detected object marking with a bounding frame and description displayed on the remote control unit, with adjustable color differentiation
Tracking / lock-on confirmation of the detected object by touch selection on the display / or via keyboard and mouse / on the remote control unit
Manual control and aiming via joystick on the remote control unit
Ballistic computation system
Meteorological sensors for ballistic computation
AI fire-safety decision system based on / see or do not see the target /
Sensor for weapon orientation, bearing, and elevation angle
Interceptor drones
Option to expand the system with directional jamming 200 – 6000 MHz
Communication system with the command vehicle / data cable – fiber optics /

Tower employment

The system can also be used independently without a command vehicle / standalone tower use, for example for critical infrastructure protection /
Group employment of towers controlled by an operations vehicle / for example for protection of a command post or buildings of special importance, and similar /
Option for fully automatic AI-based tower decision-making and engagement sequence. Semi-automatic tower control where the system waits for operator decision and confirmation of the engagement sequence. Manual control and aiming via joystick on the remote control unit
Perimeter defense by weapon fire
Employment and guidance of interceptor drones
Option to expand the system with directional jamming 200 – 6000 MHz

Command vehicle – equipment

Low-power radar up to 400 mW with 360° coverage
Acoustic detector with GPS positioning of drones
RGB camera with 360° coverage
Thermal camera with 360° coverage
Detection and recognition system for flying objects and vehicles up to 2000 m
Radio-frequency surveillance 10 MHz – 12 GHz
Commercial drone detection system with drone and operator position determination
Area high-power jamming 200 – 6000 MHz
Individual tower control system
Autonomous AI decision-making for aiming and priority assignment when multiple threats are present simultaneously
System for defining individual protection zones and their defense levels on map overlays to determine defense procedures
Interceptor drone control and launch system
Surveillance UAV control system

Basic engagement sequence and decision logic

Command vehicle + tower system

Continuous radar surveillance of airspace
Basic automatic tower slewing so that the camera systems of individual towers form circular sky monitoring
Continuous area monitoring by the acoustic detectors of individual towers and the command vehicle
Radio-frequency monitoring for the presence of UAV control frequencies
Continuous AI monitoring and evaluation of data from individual detection systems or of breaches of configured protective map perimeters

Single threat

Upon threat detection, the system commands the towers to slew in direction and elevation toward the detected threat
Initiates jamming if radio-frequency UAV control signals are detected
Individual towers confirm lock-on of the detected object and visibility for engagement, then wait for operator authorization to engage, or continue autonomously if the system is in fully automatic mode. If visibility prevents use of a given tower, that “blind” tower continues to track the object based on data from the command vehicle or another tower. When line of sight becomes available for that tower, it executes the assigned defensive response if still required
If tower engagement is unsuccessful, the system launches an interceptor for a direct hit
The sequence of individual steps is defined by protective belts created on the map overlay

Mass threat

When a threat is detected by multiple assets simultaneously, the system commands the towers to slew in direction and elevation toward the detected threat, while allocating and assigning aiming for each tower according to the speed and distance of the attacking assets from the protected area
The subsequent procedure is the same as for a single threat

ARES shield