The US Army has recognized Armaments Research Company (ARC) as one of the top winners of its xTech Counterstrike competition, highlighting innovations in technologies to detect and counter unmanned aircraft threats.
ARC won in the “passive sensing” category for its AI-Enabled Weapon Sensor (AEWS), a system that turns existing weapons into intelligent sensors capable of identifying, characterizing, and cueing responses to enemy drones without adding cognitive burden to soldiers in contact.
It was judged during a Phase 2 live experimentation event in Germany, where it stood out among more than 250 initial applicants and 15 Phase 1 finalists selected to advance.
As a result, ARC received $350,000 in prize funding and placement on the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate Marketplace, a strategic US Army acquisition tool that accelerates procurement and fielding for units operating in contested environments.
ARC CEO Mike Canty said the win is “a pivotal step toward the resilient, networked air defense architecture our warfighters need as the threat continues to evolve.”
The xTechCounter Strike Competition
Run under the army’s broader Operation Flytrap initiative, the xTechCounter Strike competition is designed to push promising counter-unmanned aircraft system technologies from early development into soldier testing and rapid acquisition.
The latest round produced four winners. MatrixSpace took the “active sensing” slot with a compact radar system meant to give small units rapid airspace awareness, while AG3 Labs won for its “threat-simulated UAS” capability, fielding drones that mimic hostile UAV behavior for training and systems evaluation.
Mountain Horse Solutions also received recognition for another passive detection approach, offering a portable system built around multi-sensor cueing and operator-friendly workflows.
