L3Harris Technologies is developing a new capability called Wraith Shield that turns its widely used Falcon IV handheld radios into portable electronic warfare systems designed to protect soldiers from small drones. The system works through a software upgrade rather than new hardware, allowing existing radios to create a localized counter-drone “protection bubble.”

The company says the upgrade is compatible with more than 100,000 Falcon IV radios already in service globally and can be added at relatively low cost. The effort reflects growing demand for battlefield counter-drone capabilities following the widespread use of small UAVs in Ukraine.

L3Harris says the technology is ready for deployment pending export approvals, and both US and international customers have shown strong interest in rapidly fielding the capability.