Kuwait Air Defences: The $489m British MARSS Contract

Amid regional turbulence following the war in Iran last February, Kuwait is moving to bolster the security of its airspace against drone attacks through its approval of an air defence deal with the British company “MARSS.” This deal includes interception assets, jamming devices, and radars, in addition to an AI-powered command and control centre to address escalating air and naval threats. It is worth noting that work on this deal cannot begin until certain conditions are met.

The deal falls within the framework of the British “Taskforce Sabre” initiative, which brings together the government and the industrial sector to assist Gulf countries in securing the defence systems they need.

The $489m British Counter Drone Contract

On 9 October, 2026, the British Ministry of Defence announced a contract valued at £370m ($489m) to supply Kuwait with an integrated counter-drone defence system, executed by MARSS Systems Limited, a subsidiary of Australia’s Electro Optic Systems (EOS) group.

Though the British Ministry of Defence specified Kuwait, ‘Janes’, citing the parent company, reported the deal was signed with an undisclosed GCC nation.

In a related context, Electro Optic Systems (EOS) stated in its disclosure issued to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) that the contract remains subject to the satisfaction of specific conditions—such as bank guarantees and export licenses—before work commences, which represents a fundamental distinction between contract signing, completion of its conditions, and actual implementation.

Multi-Domain Threat Sensor Network

MARSS will act as the prime contractor and systems integrator and will deploy sensors at multiple sites, including radars, electro-optical sensors, and sonar devices, with data to be transmitted to central command centres.

MARSS described the design as a cell-distributed system (Cellular System) aimed at providing hemispherical coverage for multi-domain threats, which include air threats (C-UAS), such as drones of all types, and naval threats (C-USV / Surface & Sub-surface), such as uncrewed and surface vessels, in addition to sub-surface threats through the integration of the sonar devices mentioned in the contract.

NiDAR: Rapid Threat Detection Cycle

The defence system that Kuwait contracted to purchase relies on the NiDAR platform, a command and control system that MARSS confirmed is powered by artificial intelligence. It consolidates data from various sensors into a unified situational picture, aiming to assist operators in assessing threats and selecting appropriate responses.

The company explained that the platform uses artificial intelligence to automatically classify threats, provide engagement recommendations, reduce operational burden, and accelerate the decision-making cycle between threat detection and engagement.

The company indicated that the Kuwaiti contract builds on NiDAR systems previously deployed in the Gulf region, which were utilised during regional tensions surrounding the recent Iran war. It added that the new contract expands this approach to the national level in Kuwait.

NiDAR’s Dual Interception Strategy

The deal supplies initial direct interception (hard-kill) and electronic jamming (soft-kill) assets, offering varied response options for neutralising threats based on their nature and operational conditions.

MARSS explained that integrating these capabilities into the NiDAR platform enables operators to choose multiple responses rather than relying on a single interception method.

A Multi-Layered Approach to Drones

MARSS CEO Johannes Pinl stated that countering drones and aerial threats relies not on a single system but on a multi-layered architecture that combines detection, assessment, and mitigation. He added that the company will integrate third-party sensors and countermeasures over the next 24 months to protect Kuwait’s population, infrastructure, and national assets.

Electro Optic Systems CEO Dr Andreas Schwer noted that the proliferation of drones is reshaping air defence requirements, and that countering low-cost threats with high-cost interceptors presents economic challenges. He described the NiDAR platform as the command-and-control layer that links sensors to countermeasures within a scalable architecture.

Training and Logistical Roadmap

The contract includes a multi-month training programme in Kuwait for operators of the NiDAR platform, sensors, and countermeasures. Phased delivery and installation will follow a 24-month timeline according to MARSS, while the UK Ministry of Defence expects integration to extend through 2027 before transitioning to multi-year logistical support.

The British government projected that the contract would help create around 100 new jobs in the UK. Meanwhile, MARSS noted that a portion of the production is proposed to take place in Bristol, alongside the expansion of its UK offices and the deployment of a team to Kuwait to execute the project.