Mehler Systems is unveiling a new active counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system at SMM 2026 in Germany, designed to protect ships against close-range drone threats.
Known as SCILT NAVAL, the system is intended to provide a last line of defense for individual vessels against small UAVs, including first-person-view (FPV) drones, one-way attack systems and loitering munitions.
The development comes amid the growing use of small, low-cost drones in conflicts, which has highlighted challenges in protecting naval vessels against threats operating at close and very close ranges. While modern warships are equipped with air defense systems capable of engaging threats at longer distances, close-range protection can be more challenging in environments such as ports, confined waterways, amphibious operations and around fixed maritime installations.
SCILT NAVAL integrates its effectors, sensors and operating controls directly onboard the vessel. Its sensor suite includes electro-optical systems and additional close-range sensors for threat detection and operational decision-making.
In its initial configuration, the system operates with a human in the loop. Mehler Systems said further automation is planned as certification requirements and operational procedures permit.
The system uses three alert levels—detection, approach and engagement—and employs commercially available shotgun calibers as effectors. Compared with the land-based version, the naval configuration offers a greater effective range and automatic reloading. Its effectors include fragmentation and armor-piercing variants.
SCILT NAVAL can be integrated with existing command-and-control (C2) and sensor systems. Where no suitable interface is available, the system can operate using its own detection and engagement chain. Additional control and display units can also be installed at multiple locations inside a vessel.
According to Mehler Systems, SCILT was developed over approximately 18 months and underwent 48 tests covering external and terminal ballistics, firing safety, fragment distribution and maritime environmental conditions. Testing also examined the effects of salt spray, corrosion, vibration and wave impact.
The company noted the test results were used to determine the system's effective range and effector configuration.
SCILT NAVAL expands Mehler Systems' existing portfolio of platform protection solutions for land, air and naval applications.