TAMPA, Fla. — May 17, 2026 : Picket Defense Systems will unveil its new Inferno RTC counter-drone platform during SOF Week 2026, taking place from May 18 to 21 at the Tampa Convention Center, as the company seeks to address emerging threats posed by drone swarms and fiber-optic guided unmanned systems.
The Inferno RTC is a close-range kinetic counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) built around a continuously rotating turret architecture designed to remove the aiming delay associated with conventional single-barrel counter-drone weapons. The system mounts multiple munition barrels at fixed elevation angles on a spherical rotating frame that continuously sweeps a complete 360-degree hemisphere.
According to company specifications, once onboard sensors detect and classify a target, the system automatically selects the optimal barrel and fires immediately without requiring additional slew-to-target movement. Picket states the platform creates a 40-meter assured-kill zone in every direction with effectively zero aiming latency.
Rotating Architecture Designed for Swarm Defense
The company says the Inferno RTC was developed to solve engagement sequencing problems commonly encountered by traditional gun-based counter-drone systems. Conventional systems must mechanically rotate and elevate a single barrel toward each incoming target before engagement, creating delays when multiple drones approach simultaneously from different directions.
The Inferno’s continuously rotating architecture is intended to bypass this limitation by ensuring that a barrel is always positioned toward any potential threat vector. The design is particularly aimed at defending against fast-moving drone swarms and pop-up close-range attacks where reaction time is limited.
Picket describes the platform as a final-layer defensive system capable of operating independently or integrating with external sensor networks and mobile platforms.
Two Variants for Dismounted and Fixed Operations
The Inferno RTC will be offered in two configurations.
The smaller variant weighs approximately 45 pounds, measures 18 inches in diameter, and carries 36 barrels capable of firing 5.56mm, .410, or 20-gauge munitions. The system is designed to be manpack-portable, allowing dismounted teams to rapidly deploy the platform in austere environments without vehicle support.
The larger variant weighs approximately 90 pounds and measures 24 by 30 inches. It carries 54 barrels and supports munitions ranging from 12-gauge ammunition up to 40mm low-velocity rounds.
Both variants provide full hemispherical coverage and are constructed using 3D-printed resin materials rather than traditional machined aluminum or steel components. Picket states the manufacturing method reduces production costs and shortens fabrication timelines while supporting rapid replacement in high-attrition operational environments.
Passive Detection and Onboard AI Processing
The Inferno RTC uses a passive, non-emitting sensor architecture that combines a 3D acoustic microphone array with integrated camera systems. According to the company, the platform can detect drone threats at ranges between 90 and 120 meters without emitting radar or radio-frequency signals.
The system’s onboard artificial intelligence processes threat data locally using TinyML classifiers to identify, classify, and prioritize targets in real time. Because processing occurs internally, the platform does not require continuous communication with external networks during operation.
Picket states this architecture eliminates radar signatures and electronic emissions that adversaries could otherwise detect, jam, intercept, or target with anti-radiation systems.
The acoustic detection capability is designed to identify drones through distinct sound signatures generated by rotor configurations, propulsion systems, flight profiles, and airframe sizes.
Multi-Domain Effector Suite
In addition to kinetic interceptors, the Inferno RTC incorporates several non-kinetic and less-lethal effectors integrated directly into the rotating turret assembly.
These include:
- Nets
- Dazzlers
- Obscurants
The company says the multi-domain configuration provides operators with engagement flexibility in environments where kinetic engagement may be restricted due to legal, operational, or collateral damage concerns.
Picket identifies potential applications including civilian infrastructure protection, border security missions, force protection operations, and security environments requiring controlled escalation options.
Designed to Counter Fiber-Optic Guided Drones
The company also states the Inferno RTC is intended to engage fiber-optic guided drones, which have become increasingly difficult to defeat through conventional electronic warfare methods.
Unlike radio-frequency-controlled drones, fiber-optic systems receive guidance commands through physical cables and cannot be disrupted through jamming. As a result, kinetic interception remains one of the primary available countermeasures.
Picket argues that the Inferno’s continuously rotating architecture and immediate-fire capability provide a potential defense mechanism against these systems, though the company has not yet released detailed public test data regarding fiber-optic drone engagements.
SOF Week 2026 Focus on Counter-Drone Technologies
Counter-UAS systems remain a major focus at SOF Week 2026 as military and special operations forces continue to encounter drones across operational environments including the Sahel, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Indo-Pacific.
The annual event is co-sponsored by United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation and is expected to attract more than 19,000 attendees, including operators, acquisition officials, allied delegations, and defense industry representatives.
This year’s conference places strong emphasis on rapid acquisition, affordable mass, attritable systems, and scalable counter-drone defenses. The Inferno RTC will be part of a broader industry presence featuring layered defense architectures, passive detection technologies, modular kinetic interceptors, and cyber-over-radio-frequency counter-UAS solutions.
Keynote presentations are scheduled from USSOCOM Commander Adm. Frank M. Bradley and Acquisition Executive Melissa A. Johnson, with discussions expected to focus heavily on lessons from current conflicts and the growing operational impact of low-cost autonomous aerial systems.
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