During the ATLAS 26 exercise, Spain tests how to respond successfully to saturation drone attacks. For this, the ARACNE system from the Spanish technology company Indra and EM&E was integrated into Spanish air defense during the exercise. This is intended to counter saturation attacks.
Countering Saturation Attacks by Drones
According to the suppliers, the C-UAS solution (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems) from Indra and EM&E offers multi-layer protection as well as mobility against drones and saturation attacks. The integration of such systems into an integrated air defense architecture currently represents one of the biggest challenges for Europe. A field in which Spain claims to have comprehensive experience and to play a leading role.
The drone defense system ARACNE, developed by Indra and EM&E and in use by the Spanish armed forces, demonstrated during ATLAS 26, which took place in Huelva from October 19 to 23, its ability to be operationally integrated into the Spanish air defense architecture, according to the companies. This marks a significant milestone for national defense and NATO: drone defense capabilities are integrated into the joint defense strategy to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, drone swarms, and saturation attacks through coordinated measures embedded in the overarching air defense system.
ARACNE was integrated via the COAAAS+ Battle Command Center for Air Defense Artillery (COAAAS+) in the air defense system of the Spanish Operational Space and Air Command (AOC). This enabled effective coordination between the drone defense systems (C-UAS) and the anti-aircraft artillery. Operationally, this architecture creates a common situational picture, shortens the decision cycle, and speeds up the detection, identification, classification, and prioritization of threats. It also facilitates the assignment of the most suitable sensor and effector — depending on the type and trajectory of the target, the level of risk, and the applicable Rules of Engagement. The result is a coordinated, scalable response that provides multi-layer protection, avoids redundancy, optimizes resources, and enables more effective defense against large-scale attacks.
This test is an important step toward addressing one of the central challenges Europe currently faces in protecting its airspace against novel threats: seamless integration of a multitude of systems, sensors and effectors. In this area, Spain brings comprehensive experience and is taking a leading role in initiatives such as the construction of a “drone wall” on the eastern flank as well as the protection of national borders.
Another outstanding capability of ARACNE is protection in motion. Thanks to Indra’s NEMUS radar systems, the system can accompany units in maneuver, extend the protection area to moving formations, and reduce their vulnerability to unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAS) — without relying solely on stationary locations. This mobility protects command posts, logistics units, convoys, and combat troops and helps to preserve freedom of action, maneuver pace, and operational continuity.
The Command and Control System (C4ARMS) integrates the various sensors and effectors with higher levels of air defense, enabling the response to be tailored to the mission and the tactical environment. This is complemented by the Brontes jammer, which provides powerful electronic warfare capabilities against UAS threats.
The electro-optical sensor OTEOS from EM&E enables precise identification and tracking, while the remotely operated weapons stations of the GUARDIAN type are used to neutralize different drone types. Through integrated operation, target tracking remains continuously ensured; this improves decision-making and enables an appropriately proportional response to the respective threat. That this capability was brought to operational use in just two years underscores the determined commitment of Indra and EM&E to collective defense and the operational requirements of the Spanish Armed Forces. Both companies thereby reaffirm their claim to provide the armed forces with technologically advanced systems designed to respond effectively, quickly and autonomously to current as well as future threats.
Within the ATLAS 26 exercise, units of the armed forces and security agencies were brought together under a single command; in this context, joint procedures for countering UAS of Classes I and II were validated in demanding scenarios. In this context, ARACNE showed that C-UAS defense finds its greatest benefit when it is part of an integrated architecture, shares information, and operates in close coordination with other capabilities.
The participation underscores the system’s operational maturity, interoperability, flexibility and open architecture, as well as its direct contribution to protecting its own forces and critical infrastructure. ARACNE is establishing itself as a national capability ready to respond to emerging aerial threats and to strengthen integrated, flexible air defense that is optimally tailored to the respective operational environment.
Author: André Forkert, Defense Editor
