Leonardo Falcon Shield

The Falcon Shield from Leonardo (Italy) is a modular counter-drone system with open architecture that can be set up fixed, in a container or on vehicles. It links radar (among others the Tactical Multi-Mission Radar with C-band AESA), ESM/RF detection and the EO/IR system Nerio with the HYAS command system. It has served with the Royal Air Force as ORCUS since 2018, and the Italian Air Force uses it too.

The stated detection range of 16 km is the manufacturer's figure for the EO system Nerio ULR against class 1 drones, not a radar range. As target classes the manufacturer gives drones of classes 1 to 3 up to about 600 kg; the limit corresponds to US group 3. The range of effectors runs from RF jamming (control link and GNSS) and cyber takeover through interceptor drones to kinetic effectors; a laser is planned.

According to the approval note, jammers may be operated in the EU only by authorised authorities and armed forces. Operating jammers is reserved to authorities and armed forces: in Germany under § 91 TKG, in Poland under Art. 42 of the Electronic Communications Law (Dz.U. 2024 item 1221). Active countermeasures are reserved to state bodies (Poland: Art. 156ze of the Aviation Law, Dz.U. 2025 item 179; Germany: federal and state police, armed forces under § 15a LuftSiG as administrative assistance). For operators of critical infrastructure, airports and event organisers, detection alone remains; radio detection, however, touches the secrecy of telecommunications (Fernmeldegeheimnis), which counts as an open legal question.

In a modular system the combination matters: which radars, jammers and effectors are installed at each site determines servicing and training. Container builds need power supply and climate control, radar and EO/IR regular calibration; components from several manufacturers call for matched software versions in the command system.