Overview
- BAE Systems was awarded the U.S. Army’s Soft Kill Active Protection System program of record on May 27, 2026, advancing its ROOK electronic‑warfare countermeasure into prototype vehicle integration.
- ROOK detects the electromagnetic signatures of incoming guided missiles and drones and emits jamming or deceptive signals to break their guidance, a method BAE says provides an effectively unlimited number of engagements so long as power and spectrum are available.
- The contract includes funding for development and prototype work on next‑generation systems, including Stormclaw and TERRA RAVEN, and the first phase of the award was reported at about $20 million.
- BAE will develop and manufacture vehicle protection hardware at its Austin, Texas facility with research support in Merrimack, New Hampshire, under an Other Transaction agreement (W56HZV‑23‑9‑D001) with the National Advanced Mobility Consortium.
- The program is meant to add a non‑kinetic layer to existing hard‑kill interceptors so crews can reserve intercept rounds for threats that cannot be defeated electronically, and it aligns with Pentagon moves to boost counter‑drone capability and domestic production capacity.