Counter-UAS Systems Engineering and Architecture Training by Tonex
Counter-UAS Systems Engineering and Architecture Training by Tonex provides a structured systems-engineering approach to detecting, identifying, tracking, assessing, and safely mitigating unmanned aircraft threats. The course examines radar, passive RF, EO/IR, acoustic sensing, sensor fusion, AI-enabled classification, track management, command and control, and multiple effector technologies within layered defensive architectures. Participants evaluate electronic effects, kinetic interceptors, and directed-energy options at an architectural level.
Cybersecurity is addressed as a critical element of sensor, network, C2, and data-fusion protection. Participants examine cyber risks affecting communications, sensor integrity, AI-assisted decisions, and connected defensive systems.
Secure architecture principles help reduce opportunities for spoofing, unauthorized access, data manipulation, and operational disruption.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Characterize UAS threats using mission, platform, payload, communication, navigation, signature, behavior, and operational-environment considerations.
- Develop operational, functional, performance, interface, safety, and verification requirements for Counter-UAS systems.
- Compare radar, passive RF, EO/IR, and acoustic sensing technologies using structured systems-engineering trade studies.
- Design multisensor architectures that support sensor fusion, classification, tracking, identification, and engagement-quality information.
- Evaluate command-and-control architectures connecting sensors, decision functions, operators, effectors, and external security systems.
- Compare electronic effects, kinetic interceptors, and directed-energy technologies using mission effectiveness, safety, integration, and operational constraints.
- Analyze false alarms, missed detections, classification confidence, track quality, coverage limitations, and sensor performance.
- Apply cybersecurity engineering principles to protect Counter-UAS sensors, communications, C2 functions, data exchanges, and decision-support capabilities.
- Develop layered Counter-UAS architectures for airports, military installations, energy facilities, government sites, and other critical infrastructure.
- Perform engagement assessment and architecture-level evaluation to determine whether defensive actions achieved intended operational outcomes.
Audience
- Systems Engineers
- Counter-UAS Engineers and Architects
- Defense Systems Engineers
- Security Systems Architects
- Radar and Sensor Engineers
- RF and Spectrum Professionals
- EO/IR Systems Professionals
- Command and Control Engineers
- AI and Data-Fusion Engineers
- Test and Evaluation Professionals
- Critical Infrastructure Security Personnel
- Military and Government Technical Staff
- Acquisition and Program Management Personnel
- Cybersecurity Professionals
- Defense Technology Developers and Integrators
Course Modules
Module 1: Threat Characterization and Requirements
- UAS threat taxonomy and operational profiles
- Platform, payload, navigation, and communications analysis
- Threat signatures and observable characteristics
- Operational scenarios and mission environments
- Counter-UAS stakeholder and mission requirements
- Functional, performance, interface, and safety requirements
Module 2: Counter-UAS Sensor Technologies
- Radar detection and tracking principles
- Passive RF detection and geolocation
- EO/IR identification and confirmation
- Acoustic detection and localization methods
- Sensor coverage and environmental limitations
- Sensor performance trade study development
Module 3: Sensor Fusion and Classification
- Multisensor data correlation principles
- Sensor fusion architecture development
- AI-assisted object and behavior classification
- Classification confidence and evidence management
- False-positive and false-negative analysis
- Detection and identification performance assessment
Module 4: Tracking and Command Architecture
- Track initiation and maintenance
- Multitarget track management
- Track confidence and quality assessment
- Command and control architecture
- Operator decision-support information flows
- Secure sensor-to-C2 communications
Module 5: Effectors and Engagement Assessment
- Electronic protection and electronic effects
- RF disruption architectural considerations
- Kinetic interceptor architecture options
- Directed-energy technology considerations
- Effector selection and engagement coordination
- Battle damage and engagement assessment
Module 6: Layered Counter-UAS Architecture
- Layered defense architecture principles
- Sensor-to-effector integration strategies
- Coverage, redundancy, and resilience planning
- Critical infrastructure protection architectures
- Architecture verification and performance measures
- Capstone C-UAS architecture development
Practical Training Approach
The course uses a practical training approach that includes exercises, real-world case studies, and examples of processes and documentation used in Counter-UAS systems engineering and architecture projects. Participants work through the progression from operational need to architecture definition rather than treating sensors, C2, and effectors as isolated technologies.
A C-UAS requirements development exercise challenges participants to translate an operational threat scenario into stakeholder, system, interface, performance, safety, and verification requirements. Participants consider detection range, classification confidence, response time, coverage, communications, environmental constraints, and acceptable risk.
During the sensor trade study exercise, participants compare radar, passive RF, EO/IR, and acoustic technologies against representative mission criteria. The exercise emphasizes trade-space reasoning, complementary sensing, environmental limitations, cost drivers, integration considerations, and the importance of avoiding dependence on a single detection method.
A false-alarm analysis exercise examines how clutter, legitimate aircraft, RF activity, wildlife, environmental conditions, and ambiguous observations can influence detection and classification performance. Participants consider probability of detection, confidence thresholds, operator workload, escalation logic, and the operational consequences of incorrect classifications.
The layered architecture development exercise integrates detection, identification, tracking, C2, and effector functions into a coordinated defensive architecture. Participants examine interface definitions, data flows, sensor coverage, redundancy, response timelines, cybersecurity controls, safety constraints, and engagement authorities.
Real-world case studies explore the engineering challenges associated with protecting airports, military installations, energy facilities, government locations, and other critical infrastructure. Examples of project documentation include operational concept material, requirements specifications, interface definitions, architecture views, sensor trade matrices, risk registers, verification matrices, coverage assessments, decision logic, and engagement-assessment criteria.
Capstone Architecture Project
The course concludes with a capstone in which participants design a layered Counter-UAS architecture for a hypothetical airport, military installation, or energy facility. Teams characterize the threat environment, establish system requirements, select complementary sensors, define fusion and tracking functions, develop C2 information flows, evaluate appropriate effector categories, address cybersecurity and safety considerations, and establish measures for engagement assessment.
The resulting architecture demonstrates how threat characterization, sensing, decision support, command and control, mitigation technologies, cybersecurity, and systems engineering must work together as an integrated defensive capability.
Advance Your Counter-UAS Engineering Expertise
Build the architectural, analytical, and systems-engineering skills required to develop resilient layered defenses with Counter-UAS Systems Engineering and Architecture Training by Tonex.