UK RAF SYNERGIA Counter-UAS Programme (ORCUS)

SYNERGIA is the Royal Air Force's counter-drone research and development programme, managed by Defence Equipment and Support's Future Capability Group with Leonardo UK as prime contractor, to detect, track, identify and defeat hostile drones and protect UK air bases. Its ORCUS system combines radar, electro-optic and radio frequency sensors with an electronic attack countermeasure. The current phase began in 2019, and in September 2020 the programme reached initial operating capability as Leonardo delivered the first of four planned baseline systems. By 2024 Leonardo had delivered seven baseline ORCUS systems, which the RAF keeps as a national standby capability to support the emergency services.