MARSS, an EOS company, has entered into a £370 million contract to deliver a nationwide counter-drone defence system for Kuwait, covering threats from the air and the sea.
The contract calls for the rapid deployment of a cellular system built around NiDAR, MARSS’ AI-enabled command and control (C2) system designed for multi domain surveillance and counter-drone defence. MARSS, as prime contractor and systems integrator, will install electro-optical, radar and sonar sensors across a network of sites to feed central command centres. NiDAR will fuse the data into actionable threat assessments, providing hemispherical coverage against airborne and coastal seaborne drones. The contract also includes initial supply of hard-kill interceptors and soft-kill jammers.
Recent conflicts in the Middle East have shown the damage drone attacks can inflict, and the limits of air defences that rely on expensive interceptor missiles. With soft-kill and hard-kill effectors integrated into and controlled through NiDAR, operators have layered defeat options and can select the most appropriate response for each situation. NiDAR dramatically shortens the decision cycle from detection to defeat, using AI to classify threats automatically, recommend engagement and reduce the cognitive burden on operators.
The contract builds on NiDAR systems MARSS has already fielded in the Gulf region, which have been in operational use throughout the recent crisis. This contract extends that approach to nationwide scale.
Johannes Pinl, CEO of MARSS, said, “Countering drones and aerial threats is not about any single system. It is about an intelligent, layered architecture that detects, decides and defeats within seconds, and MARSS has built exactly that.
“Over the coming 24 months, MARSS will integrate the sensors and effectors that protect Kuwait’s people, critical infrastructure and national assets, backed by British engineering and new skilled jobs here in the UK.”
Dr. Andreas Schwer, CEO of EOS, commented, “Air defence is being redefined by the drone. Nations can no longer afford to answer low-cost threats with high-cost interceptors, and they need integrated systems that can respond faster than the threat. MARSS’ NiDAR is the intelligence layer in EOS’ counter-drone strategy, connecting sensors and effectors into a single, scalable architecture. Kuwait’s decision to deploy this capability nationwide shows where the market is heading, and it positions EOS as a leading provider of integrated counter-drone defence.”
The contract is expected to create around 100 new jobs in the UK, across MARSS and its UK supply chain, supporting skilled engineering and manufacturing roles. Some of the production is proposed to be based in Bristol, with MARSS expanding its wider UK offices to support delivery. A team will also deploy to Kuwait to deliver the contract, with recruitment already under way.
The deal forms part of the UK Government’s Taskforce Sabre, which brings together government and industry to help Gulf states rapidly secure the systems they need.
MARSS will also provide a training package running over several months, with personnel on the ground to train operators across sensors, effectors and the NiDAR platform. Delivery will be phased over the course of 24 months, followed by a multi-year Integrated Logistic Support programme.
MARSS is exhibiting at SOFEX 2026 on stand H101 from 27 to 29 October, where visitors can see a live demonstration of NiDAR and meet the MARSS team. NiDAR will also be on show integrated onto vehicle platforms around the exhibition, alongside EOS remote weapon stations.
Be the first to comment