Technological advances in the field of unmanned aerial systems are driving exponential growth and pose an asymmetric threat due to ineffective defense capabilities. According to the annual security policy forecast for 2022, the security risk for Austria is tending to increase. As emphasized in the 2024 risk profile, ground-based air defence for drone defence and the provision of effective means up to medium range are becoming increasingly important. Currently, hybrid and terrorist threats from individual perpetrators in the low-tech sector are considered more likely in the short to medium term, while systemic terrorist threats, including possible massive attacks on Austria's critical infrastructure, cannot be ruled out in the medium to long term. These could involve conventional or more advanced weapons such as drones or drone swarms.

The increasing risks for Austria and the challenges for its security and defense policy must be considered in the context of global geopolitical tensions, with technological sovereignty becoming central to the state's ability to act and the sustainable protection of society. The overarching objective is to develop cutting-edge methods and procedures for mobile airspace surveillance and threat prevention that can be seamlessly integrated and used for military purposes. Given the harsh military environment and operational conditions, this represents a particular challenge. The following objectives are to be achieved in close cooperation with the customer:

- Sensors and Effectors: Integration of technologies from previous research projects for surveillance, command and control, and effectors to enable effective and precise engagement of threats.

- Integration into Platform: Integration of developed technology into a platform to ensure its mobility and deployment flexibility on specific vehicles, facilitating rapid deployment in various operational scenarios.

- Validation and Training: Technology transfer to ensure independent validation of the developed systems in military exercises including training operators and conducting test runs to assess the performance and reliability of the technology under real-world conditions.