AeroVironment is using Eurosatory 2026 in Paris to push its Halo_Shield counter-drone framework into the European procurement pipeline. The Arlington, Virginia-based loitering munitions maker unveiled Halo_Shield in April at Modern Day Marine 2026 and is now showing the system to land-warfare buyers from 68 nations at the Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition centre.
A Tile-Based Approach To Layered Counter-UAS
Halo_Shield ditches monolithic counter-UAS architectures for a modular framework of domain-specific tiles. AeroVironment is fielding Sentinel, Terrestrial, Nautical, Aerial and Celestial configurations, each integrating its own sensors, effectors and command-and-control software. Tiles are designed for plug-and-play integration with existing radar, optical and C2 frameworks and can be deployed as portable fly-away kits, an approach pitched at expeditionary U.S. forces and NATO partners.
LOCUST Laser, Switchblade And Titan RF Inside The Bundle
Inside the tiles, Halo_Shield draws on AeroVironment and partner systems including the LOCUST laser weapon, Switchblade loitering munitions and Titan RF counter-UAS effectors. The kit is built to defeat single drones, drone swarms and subsonic cruise missiles in the same engagement, matching the threat envelope European forces have seen across Ukrainian airspace. AeroVironment expanded into directed-energy and space effects through its 2025 acquisition of BlueHalo, which underpins the Halo branding.
Where It Fits In The Eurosatory Autonomy Story
Halo_Shield arrives at a show where every major exhibitor is leading with autonomy or counter-autonomy. AeroVironment's stand sits alongside the AM General-Carnegie Robotics UGV, the Ondas Iron Wave counter-drone, and the Rheinmetall Skyranger 30. The company has been on a U.S. contract roll, with its $117M P550 long-range reconnaissance award from the U.S. Army landing this month.
Reporting based on coverage from Military Embedded Systems, AeroMorning, and The Defense Watch.