UK defence and national security company Roke has launched CORTEXA GUARDIAN, a new counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) capability designed to be operated by any soldier with minimal training, the company announced Tuesday.

The system was officially released to the market at the Counter-UAS Forum in London following close collaboration with armed forces across the UK and Northern Europe. Customers are already fielding the capability, and Roke said CORTEXA GUARDIAN can move from delivery to unsupervised operational use in under 48 hours.

CORTEXA GUARDIAN is a modular and highly customisable system built to detect, track and identify multiple aerial threats simultaneously. It is intended to help the UK and its allies counter the growing risk posed by small, low-cost unmanned aircraft.

Traditionally, counter-UAS systems require specialist operators trained over several months. Roke said CORTEXA GUARDIAN reduces training time significantly, with users typically becoming operational within days. The system achieves this by automating advanced sensing, tracking, prioritisation and classification functions beneath a simplified user interface that presents only essential information to operators.

The system’s physical design mirrors this approach. Sensors are mounted on commercial camera tripods rather than specialist military masts, simplifying deployment and reducing the need for additional hardware training. The software interface operates through a web browser on standard devices including laptops, tablets and mobile phones, eliminating the need for bespoke infrastructure.

First unveiled at DSEI 2025, CORTEXA GUARDIAN has progressed rapidly from concept to operational deployment. Roke said it worked closely with military mission partners across Northern Europe to refine the system based on real-world feedback rather than controlled test environments. Early customers have already deployed the system independently, validating its ease of use and speed to readiness.

While designed for simplicity, the system delivers a layered counter-drone capability. Its modular architecture allows it to be tailored to different mission requirements and environments, supporting dispersed units, forward operating bases and wider force protection tasks. Roke said the system also has the capacity to evolve, allowing new sensors and capabilities to be integrated as threats change without disrupting the operator experience.

“Small unmanned systems are among the most disruptive threats facing defence and security forces today,” said Marc Overton, managing director at Roke. “Countering them effectively requires capability that can be integrated rapidly, adapted as threats evolve, and used by the people who need it most, not just specialists.

“CORTEXA GUARDIAN was developed to meet that requirement. It reflects close collaboration with military partners and a clear focus on operational reality,” he said.

Roke said CORTEXA GUARDIAN is available now to government, defence and public safety organisations across NATO and Northern Europe, including customers in military, border security, critical infrastructure protection and public safety roles.

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Roke launches CORTEXA GUARDIAN counter-drone system for rapid battlefield use

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