High Point Aerotechnologies: Solutions to Protect Battlefields and Homelands

When you think of "Safe and Secure Skies," you can't help but think of High Point Aerotechnologies (HPA), a technology company headquartered in Boise, Idaho that develops autonomous defense and robotic systems with multi-mission capabilities. In a recent episode of the Dawn of Autonomy podcast, Chief Revenue Officer Evan Hunt discussed the company’s various partnerships and products that safeguard the airspace over battlefields and homelands globally. Read on to discover how HPA has brought together several renowned legacy companies in the counter-drone space to deliver innovative solutions for U.S. and coalition protectors and defenders.

Threats from Above

The uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) threat landscape continues to evolve in warfare, defense and security. "You used to not have to look up and worry about what was flying overhead,” Hunt said. “You used to not have to worry about anybody being able to see or monitor your movements." That’s all changed.

Today, the proliferation of small UAS presents a significant threat due to their widespread availability and adaptability for weaponization or malicious purposes. These drones can often be purchased commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS) and operated with consumer-grade technology, making them easily modifiable for nefarious activities such as surveillance or payload delivery. Their small size, agility and resemblance to natural objects in the airspace make them difficult to detect and track using traditional air defense systems.

For this reason, both domestic and international defense and security professionals, both civilian or military, actively seek solutions to efficiently safeguard their airspace and protect a wide range of assets, from stadiums, oil fields, borders to key government facilities and battlefields. HPA focuses on providing the asymmetric aerospace and defense technologies to address these needs globally.

It Takes A Village

To tackle these challenges, the company has curated an exceptional team of teams. HPA’s parent company, DZYNE, excels in swiftly designing, developing and deploying cutting-edge crewed and uncrewed systems. It has a rich legacy of providing specialized larger drones for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and loitering munitions. This heritage provides the company with the experience and insights necessary to stay ahead of trends relevant to the warfighting and security communities.

HPA formed in 2022 with a focus on bringing together civilian and military defense investments to address the growing need for advanced counter-UAS solutions driven by the increasing prevalence of unauthorized drone activity and associated security threats. In just two years, HPA has quickly made significant strides in this area, with the acquisition of three key companies, Liteye Systems, Black Sage Technologies, and Flex Force Enterprises.

In 2022, HPA acquired Liteye Systems. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, Liteye has been a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced C-UAS integration solutions. Liteye delivered dozens of C-UAS systems for the U.S. government, and its legacy AUDS (Anti-UAV Defense System) and updated SHIELD variants used by the U.S. military in multiple locations around the world.

HPA’s acquisition of Black Sage Technologies represented its entrance into the civilian C-UAS market. Like Liteye’s SHIELD system, Black Sage’s Sawtooth C-UAS solution was certified by the U.S. Army’s Joint Counter small-UAS Office (JCO) in 2021, though Black Sage has since focused on protection of civilian airports and critical infrastructure providers. Renowned for its robust advanced C-UAS and security solutions, the Sawtooth is deployed in over a dozen countries and protects millions of air travelers annually at major international airports.

HPA’s most recent acquisition, announced in February 2024, involved Flex Force Enterprises, a recognized pioneer in handheld drone defense and countermeasure technologies. The company viewed incorporating Dronebuster®, a compact, lightweight, and cost-effective portable drone defense asset, as a key part of its future growth strategy. Capable of simultaneous disruption of conventional control and GNSS signals, the portable handheld and easy-to-use Dronebuster® represents a first-level solution for the detection and defeat of commercial and recreational drone threats. This aligns with HPA’s focus on developing scalable, interoperable solutions that can address a wide range of scenarios.

A Ton of Talent

The individuals that comprise HPA’s defense and security-focused unit have equally impressive bona fides as the companies that have been rolled into its fold. Hunt, for example, began his career in the U.S. Air Force as a B-1 Bomber Weapon Systems and Electronic Warfare Officer. He later transitioned to the role of Director of Business Development at Coherent, and subsequently joined Raytheon, where he focused on countering the emerging drone threat. According to Hunt, "We have a ton of talent to ensure we can meet customer needs with cutting-edge solutions."

Besides Hunt, the HPA team includes a number of other former military subject matter experts (SMEs) and White House personnel, as well as specialists in Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous software and other engineering experts - all with decades of experience. Notable among these is CEO Al White, a seasoned industry leader with extensive experience in the defense and aerospace sectors. Chief Technology Officer Jeff Maas previously led the Electronic Warfare division of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Chief Engineer Dr. Nicholas Maniscalco is a recognized C-UAS expert, having overseen various teams in deploying ruggedized C-UAS systems for sustained operations in real-world environments throughout his illustrious career.

Trusted, True and New

HPA’s leaders have grounded their approach to C-UAS across an impressive array of physical systems like Sawtooth and Shield, as well as new innovative advancements in automated command and control interfaces, such as the company’s purpose-built DefenseOS. This strategy resonates well with defense customers who prioritize reliability and effectiveness, particularly in challenging environments. As Hunt explained, "Customers, especially in defense, look for solutions that have been tried and tested, not just something shiny and new."

One example of such a product is the Sawtooth, designed for safeguarding fixed sites like key government facilities or military bases. The Sawtooth modular and interoperable CUAS hardware platform provides distributed defense for open critical infrastructure protection. Its key components include radar panels for threat acquisition, coupled with passive radio frequency

(RF) detectors. Sawtooth’s array of active radars are augmented by RF sensor technologies

from providers such as D-Fend Solutions. By combining passive RF detection with active radar capabilities, the Sawtooth can accurately locate and track drones, subsequently deploying directional jammers to disrupt Wi-Fi and GPS signals controlling the drone.

Hunt emphasized that this configuration establishes a three to four-kilometer defense bubble for thorough coverage against airborne threats. The Sawtooth's sensor and effector suite can be repackaged onto vehicles or boats and cater to various operational requirements to support on-the-move and on-the-halt drone defense.

The company also features Shield, a battle-tested counter-autonomy system which originated as a military-hardened, containerized, and layered multi-domain defense solution. Shield can operate independently or as part of an integrated aerial defense network. Originally, 26 systems were delivered to the U.S. Air Force and remain deployed in multiple global locations. These systems continue to actively defend bases in Europe and the Middle East. Over time, the product's command and control capabilities have adapted to meet mission needs and have evolved from standalone installations to incorporate remotely operated, on-the-go trailer setups.

The company’s latest endeavor for on-the-move counter-drone protection systems, the Cutthroat product line, builds upon the advancements of the Sawtooth and integrates the proven Dronebuster® technology. This smaller, more efficient system offers enhanced capabilities at a price point far below that of comparable perimeter-based security systems. The company aims to cater to multiple customer needs, including systems on autonomous boats or ground vehicles, through partnerships like GM Defense for the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) and Exail for its Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV).

As the company fully integrates with DZYNE, it anticipates leveraging DZYNE’s array of long-endurance ISR aircraft platforms to incorporate next generation UAS detection and remote sensing capabilities. By integrating CUAS into DZYNE’s multi-day endurance platforms, the company will be able to provide a persistent surveillance and mitigation solution to hard-to-access locations like borders or across deserts where maintaining physical detection infrastructure is often infeasible. In practical terms, the counter-drone measures would emanate directly from the aircraft, providing improved detection and immediate response capabilities to mitigate drone threats effectively.

On the software side of the house, the company’s DefenseOS platform functions as a backend integration and data fusion platform to facilitate the coordination of a multitude of sensors and effectors. Rather than specialize in any one sensor or effector, HPA seeks instead to be the very best integrator of sensors and effectors as a means of ‘future proofing’ its technologies and providing exceptional flexibility to customers.

Hunt explained, “To do counter drone correctly, you really need to integrate a wide number of sensors and consolidate these various sources of information into a single track for operators.” The software allows for a unified defense strategy because it’s designed to run across different platforms, ensuring compatibility with various products like those from across HPA’s product line as well as the entire suite of industry-developed solutions. HPA has leveraged DefenseOS to successfully integrate over 50 individual sensors and effectors, an unmatched level of expertise in a highly specialized industry.

Finally, HPA embraces an open architecture approach, designing solutions for specific mission requirements, while remaining vendor-agnostic. The company collaborates closely with various partners, including Northrop Grumman, known for their highly effective short-range Scorpion gun. They've also partnered with Raytheon, whose advanced laser weapon system emits an invisible beam of light capable of burning holes in targets, and Epirus, whose microwave technologies provide the U.S. Military with an effective countermeasure against drone swarms.

As for the future, as the use of drones continues to expand across various sectors, the need for robust and cost-effective counter-drone solutions will only continue to increase. Undoubtedly, HPA remains well-positioned to meet this growing demand.