Systems Engineer and Integration Intern

Honeywell, Odys Aviation develop airborne counter-drone capability. 2 minutes read Honeywell has partnered with Odys Aviation to develop an airborne counter-drone system aimed at extending defensive coverage for critical infrastructure and strategic assets beyond fixed and mobile ground-based systems. The solution combines Honeywell Aerospace's Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept (SAMURAI) system with Odys Aviation's Laila hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. More than a year of integration work has gone into adapting SAMURAI for airborne deployment, adding a new defensive layer between ground sensors and missile defense systems. SAMURAI C-UAS architecture. SAMURAI is a modular counter-unmanned aerial system (UAS) architecture designed to detect, identify, track, and neutralize drones using a layered mix of sensors, beyond-visual-line-of-sight communications, command-and-control capabilities, and electronic and kinetic effectors. According to Honeywell, the system integrates radio-frequency detection with electro-optical sensing technologies and can incorporate interceptor drones to counter swarm threats. "SAMURAI delivers critical counter-UAS capabilities with proven reliability, scalability, and seamless integration into existing defense architectures," President of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace, Matt Milas, said. Leverages AI for enhanced target identification. Originally designed to protect US Air Force convoys carrying critical assets, SAMURAI can detect threats at range and deploy countermeasures at speed without requiring the convoy to halt - an advantage over many traditional systems. Citing Honeywell's senior director of cybersecurity and electronic warfare, Norm Balchunas, National Defense reported that the system leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance threat detection and decision-making, including distinguishing drones from background clutter. "That's where we're really focused [on] with AI enablement, to be able to do that target discernment - whether it's a bird, what kind of drone it is, what's the flight profile that it's flying? Does it represent a threat?" Balchunas was quoted as saying. "That AI piece is really critical because it's seven seconds from detection to having to make a [decision] on what effector I'm using with some of the high-speed drones that are coming in." Integration with Laila VTOL aircraft. Initially developed for vehicle-mounted and fixed-site platforms, SAMURAI's integration with the Laila VTOL significantly expands its operational reach, enabling airborne coverage over wider and more remote areas. Laila's hybrid propulsion system - compatible with Jet A, Jet A-1, and JP-8 fuels - allows it to remain airborne for up to eight hours across a range of approximately 450 miles (724 kilometers). The platform eliminates the need for dedicated charging infrastructure, enabling rapid deployment in remote, expeditionary, and offshore environments. "Drone threats have fundamentally changed the economics and operational requirements of air defense," CEO of Odys Aviation James Dorris explained. "Critical infrastructure and forward-operating locations require persistent protection across large areas and the ability to engage threats at the horizon long before they're at the doorstep. By combining Honeywell's SAMURAI system with the endurance, runway independence, and onboard power capability of Laila, we're introducing a new airborne defense layer designed for today and into the future." Slide to Verify

Honeywell and Odys Aviation unveil new airborne layer for counter-uas defense solutions. New system highlights the need for layered protection against evolving drone threats. As drone threats continue to evolve, defense strategies are shifting toward layered systems that combine multiple technologies. A new collaboration between Honeywell Aerospace and Odys Aviation reflects this trend. The companies have announced a joint effort to develop an airborne counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) designed to protect critical infrastructure and strategic assets. This initiative underscores a key trend in the industry: no single system can address every drone threat. Instead, operators are building layered defenses that detect, track, and respond across multiple domains. Adding a new layer to defense architecture. The new system combines Honeywell's Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept (SAMURAI) platform with Odys Aviation's long-range Laila UAV. This collaboration introduces an airborne layer that operates between ground-based sensors and high-end missile defense systems. This approach enhances coverage and reduces reliance on costly kinetic responses, allowing for earlier detection and engagement of threats over wide areas. In a layered model, each component plays a defined role: * Ground sensors provide initial detection. * Airborne systems extend range and persistence. * Higher-end defenses are reserved for last-resort engagement. This structure helps operators manage both cost and risk while improving resilience against complex or coordinated drone activity. Why layered defense matters. Drone threats have transformed the scale and economics of air defense. Small, low-cost systems can challenge traditional approaches that rely on expensive interceptors. "Drone threats have fundamentally changed the economics and operational requirements of air defense," said James Dorris, CEO of Odys Aviation. "Critical infrastructure and forward-operating locations require persistent protection across large areas and the ability to engage threats at the horizon long before they're at the doorstep." A layered system addresses these challenges by allowing earlier intervention and reducing the need for high-cost responses. It also enables continuous monitoring in areas where fixed infrastructure may be limited, which is particularly important for distributed assets such as pipelines, refineries, and offshore platforms. Airborne persistence expands coverage. The Laila UAV offers long endurance and flexible deployment capabilities. Its hybrid propulsion allows it to remain airborne for up to eight hours and cover a range of 450 miles without requiring dedicated charging infrastructure. It can operate using commonly available fuels, supporting deployment in remote or expeditionary environments. By maintaining a persistent presence, the airborne layer can continuously monitor large areas and detect threats earlier than ground systems alone, filling a critical gap in layered defense. Modular design supports integration. The SAMURAI system features a modular design built with model-based systems engineering, allowing operators to integrate various sensors and effectors based on mission needs. The platform adheres to Modular Open Systems Approach standards, promoting interoperability and long-term sustainment while enabling systems to evolve as threats change. Flexibility is essential in a layered defense strategy, as operators must quickly adapt to new types of drones and tactics. Modular systems ensure that each layer can be updated without the need to replace the entire architecture. A shift toward integrated defense. The collaboration between Honeywell and Odys Aviation reflects a broader shift in how organizations approach drone defense. Rather than relying on a single solution, operators are developing integrated systems that combine detection, tracking, and response across multiple layers, with airborne platforms playing a crucial role. As drone threats continue to expand, layered defense is becoming increasingly essential for effective protection.

Odys Aviation and Motion Applied announce engineering collaboration to deliver flight-ready hybrid-electric propulsion. LONG BEACH, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Odys Aviation, a dual-use aerospace company building hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, today announced a strategic engineering collaboration with Motion Applied (MA) to advance a next-generation hybrid-electric propulsion architecture for advanced flight applications. Under the terms of the partnership, Motion Applied's proven silicon carbide (SiC) inverter platform, the AMPEX MCU-600, will be integrated with Odys' family of high-speed generator units to form a certifiable, high-performance hybrid propulsion system for use in the company's Laila and Alta aircraft. At the core of the system is MA's embedded software stack for hybrid systems coordination and aviation-level redundancy management. Integrated directly with the Odys hybrid controller, the architecture enables a tightly coupled turbine-generator-inverter closed-loop control system optimized for dynamic flight operations and capable of simultaneously supporting multi-winding fault isolation, graceful degradation, and continued operation under single-path failures. This integrated approach ensures the propulsion system can maintain controlled operation even under fault conditions, an essential requirement for hybrid-electric aircraft operating in real-world environments. The AMPEX MCU-600 is fully compatible with Odys' high-speed generators, leveraging a production-proven inverter platform to de-risk development and accelerate time to a certifiable integrated motor-generator unit. By building on an established hardware and software base, the teams will reduce integration uncertainty while preserving performance headroom for future aircraft variants. Beyond electrical performance, the AMPEX platform offers defined mechanical packaging and thermal interfaces that support compact system integration. Clear cooling boundaries and predictable thermal performance reduce integration risk, streamline aircraft-level packaging, and minimize downstream surprises during system validation and flight testing. As Odys advances toward initial aircraft deliveries this year, working with established partners committed to joint engineering development has become central to the company's execution strategy. This latest collaboration reflects a shared commitment to joint development, aligning electrical, mechanical, and embedded software systems from the outset to accelerate the path to a flight-worthy, integrated solution. "Hybrid-electric aviation will only succeed if every element of the propulsion system is developed together with absolute clarity of purpose," said Samir Maha, CEO of Motion Applied. "Our partnership with Odys Aviation reflects that mindset. By combining our inverter platform with their advanced generator technology, we are building the foundation for flight-ready hybrid propulsion that raises the bar for performance and safety across the industry." "At Odys, we believe hybrid propulsion must be architected from the ground up as a unified system, not assembled from loosely connected components," said James Dorris, CEO of Odys Aviation. "Motion Applied brings a proven SiC inverter platform and embedded control stack that integrates seamlessly with our hybrid controller. Together, we are accelerating the path to a certifiable, resilient propulsion system as we move toward first aircraft deliveries." About Odys Aviation Odys Aviation designs, develops and manufactures long-range, technologically advanced dual-use VTOL aircraft that solve global challenges across defense, logistics, and passenger travel. The company is pioneering the next generation of VTOL aircraft which use hybrid-electric propulsion systems to deliver the optimal balance between range and payload. Based in Long Beach, CA, Odys Aviation was launched in 2021 and is led by seasoned engineers and strategists from SpaceX, Airbus, Tesla and the U.S. Department of Defense. The company has $11B+ in signed LOIs to date. Visit www.odysaviation.com for more information. About Motion Applied Motion Applied is a UK-based technology company committed to delivering high performance technology that sets new standards in precision, reliability and innovation. Motion Applied's AMPEX brand develops market leading onboard and offboard electrification products, including a range of AC and DC electric vehicle charging equipment, and the MCU-600 Inverter. Alongside AMPEX sits the TAG and ATLAS brands, the market leading motorsports electronics and software products, and EDGE and FLEET CONNECT, a suite of telematics & connectivity solutions for the transport industry.