New US mobile air defense system secretly tested in Ukraine: preparations for mass deployment underway

The United States is finalizing preparations for the possible deployment of a promising mobile drone countermeasures system that could significantly enhance the protection of units from aerial threats and change the tactics of fighting drones on the battlefield.

It was reported by The War Zone.

It is about the Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire (DASH) system, which is likely to be a version of the Tempest anti-aircraft missile system first demonstrated last fall. The American company V2X may receive a contract from the US Marine Corps to supply this system to combat UAVs.

According to the US Marine Corps Systems Command, the system is planned to be equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. At the same time, the exact specifications and configuration remain classified.

The main purpose of DASH is to detect, recognize, track and destroy small drones. The system is being developed in a mobile format, which will allow it to quickly change positions and be used in maneuver warfare.

As part of its procurement plans, the US Marine Corps expects to receive up to 50 such systems. The first two units are to be delivered by the end of May, the rest - by December. Initial operational capability is scheduled for fiscal year 2027, which starts on October 1 this year. The contract is expected to be signed in the near future.

The requirement for the system's technological readiness at the TRL-9 level, which implies a fully completed product tested in conditions as close to combat as possible, is emphasized. In this context, the Tempest system from V2X, which was presented in October 2025, is mentioned. Subsequently, there was information about its closed tests in Ukraine - the system was spotted in one of the videos of the Center Air Command.

Recall that in 2025, Ukroboronprom increased the production of arms and military equipment by one and a half times.

To request a correction, please send an email.