South Africa Launches Innovative Drone Defense System Following Promising Test Results

The Centauri TriAD counter-UAS system has been successfully verified

Pretoria-based defense technology firm Centauri Innovations has announced that its TriAD counter-drone solution has effectively completed integrated, multi-tier C-UAS (counter-unmanned aerial system) capability evaluations in a vehicle-mounted configuration.

“Our recent assessments validated Centauri’s TriAD system, which combines radar, RF (radio frequency), and electro-optical sensors with AI-driven decision support to detect, prioritize, and neutralize hostile drones instantly utilizing multiple hard-kill systems,” said Xander Louw, Chief Product Officer.

The solution was publicly presented for the first time in February at the IDEX2025 international defense exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“Since that moment, we’ve upgraded the functionalities of the TriAD system, culminating in an extensive series of controlled proof-of-concept evaluations,” Louw noted. “These assessments are designed to illustrate comprehensive detection, monitoring, identification, and counteraction of small unmanned aerial systems from a unified interoperable platform.”

The evaluations merged proven sensors with Centauri’s remotely operated weapon stations (ROWS) and a cohesive Command and Control infrastructure, demonstrating how a singular vehicle-mounted solution can provide robust, layered defense for convoys, military installations, and high-value assets.

While TriAD is engineered as a sensor-agnostic platform to accommodate various detection and tracking devices, the remotely operated weapon stations (ROWS) are proprietary Centauri systems.

These consist of the CRx-7 (7.62 mm LMG), CRx-30 (30×113 mm cannon), and CRx-40 (six-shot 40 mm grenade launcher) remote weapon stations, delivering a tiered kinetic response.

The evaluations illustrated that tracking provided by the 360° radars, in conjunction with RF detections and EO/IR imagery from optical sensors, significantly reduces false positives, thereby facilitating prompt identification and quick, reliable engagement decisions.

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Importantly, the TriAD’s decision-support algorithm recognized that it prioritizes multiple simultaneous contacts, leading to engagement prioritization aligned with operator judgment.

“This effectively implies the Command and Control (C2) system consolidates radar, RF, and optical tracks into a singular tactical overview, which informs AI-based classifiers,” Louw clarified. “In this manner, threats are prioritized, and the operator receives recommendations for optimal effectors, that is, which weapon to utilize.”

In situations involving low-risk reconnaissance drones, the operator may employ RF jamming or deploy the CRx-7 7.62 mm light machine gun (LMG). For higher-risk or fortified drone types, the 30 mm CRx-30 cannon (engineered for long-range) or CRx-40 (for close-range defense) grenade launcher can be activated using airburst munitions.

The TriAD is equipped with a human-machine interface (HMI) that enables the operator to swiftly switch between sensor feeds and offers single-click selections of recommended effectors (weapons) or manual control options.

According to Louw, Centauri’s focus during design has been on modularity and export versatility.

“The TriAD can be customized with various sensor/effector pairings to meet client demands,” he emphasized. “Some clients may favor a robust sensor detection framework with soft-kill capabilities, while others would opt for a hard-kill solution designed for contested environments.”

Its architecture allows integration on armored vehicles, naval platforms, or as static deployments, such as around airfields and military sites. Due to its compact and lightweight design, it can even be mounted on light vehicles, enhancing interoperability with allied forces.

Louw explained that Centauri’s evaluations represent a broader industry shift towards layered, interconnected counter-UAS strategies that integrate sensors, soft-kill, and hard-kill options under unified decision-making frameworks. Clients benefit from TriAD’s single-vendor integration, which shortens time-to-deploy compared to piecing together diverse subsystems.

“What remains now is acceptance testing and qualification,” he stated. “Centauri will soon expand the trial spectrum to include EW resilience assessments, GNSS denial situations, and extended-range integration with vehicle convoys,” Louw concluded.