Fortem and Southern States Partner on Grid Defense

Fortem Technologies and Southern States LLC have announced a strategic partnership to deliver integrated airspace awareness and counter-drone solutions designed for electric utility infrastructure protection. Southern States, a century-old provider of high-voltage switching and grid-resiliency technology, has integrated Fortem’s specialized counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) components into its new Airspace Awareness product line.

Technical Integration and System Architecture

The partnership brings together three core technology platforms into a comprehensive utility-grade solution. The system incorporates Fortem’s TrueView™ radar, a specialized AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Phased Array) radar featuring advanced drone detection capabilities. TrueView™ radars operate with minimal power consumption—as low as 38 watts for R20 models—and utilize AI-powered microdoppler classification to distinguish drone threats from environmental noise, including birds and weather.

The SkyDome® C2 software serves as the command and control layer, functioning as an end-to-end sensor correlation platform. SkyDome integrates radar data with long-range optical and thermal camera feeds, enabling real-time threat assessment and automated response protocols. The software includes configurable automation engines that can establish detection zones and trigger responses based on tracked object behavior.

The DroneHunter® F700 interceptor completes the integrated suite, providing kinetic mitigation capabilities. The F700 operates as a fully autonomous, radar-guided platform equipped with specialized payloads, including NetGun™ systems and DrogueNet™ technology designed to capture threats across multiple drone classifications. The interceptor incorporates an onboard TrueView® R20 radar unit, enabling independent target detection and autonomous engagement decisions.

Operational Capabilities for Grid Defense

The integrated airspace awareness system enables utilities to detect threats at extended ranges—typically 3 to 10 times the distance of conventional ground-based mitigation techniques. The system operates continuously under all weather conditions, including night operations, rain, snow, and fog. TrueView™ radars can be networked to achieve 360-degree coverage across large geographic areas, with multiple DroneHunter units coordinating through centralized command structures or autonomous protocols.

The partnership addresses documented threats to critical power infrastructure. Federal authorities have previously identified attempted drone-based attacks on grid facilities, making integrated airspace awareness an increasingly critical component of utility security infrastructure.

About Southern States, LLC

Founded in 1916, Southern States is the world’s largest manufacturer of high-voltage disconnect switches and a leading provider of next-generation grid-protection solutions. With over 100 patents, the company is recognized for its engineering excellence and commitment to advancing electric-power reliability worldwide. Learn more at southernstatesllc.com.

About Fortem Technologies

Fortem Technologies is a global leader in airspace security, delivering advanced solutions that protect against today’s autonomous aerial threats while enabling the safety of tomorrow’s advanced air mobility. Its AI-powered SkyDome® Family of Systems – combining TrueView™ sensors, command-and-control software, and autonomous DroneHunter® interceptors – defends military, government, and commercial operations worldwide from hostile or unauthorized drones. Fortem is the only company authorized to deploy a drone-on-drone kinetic interceptor in U.S. airspace, with technology validated in operational use across USA, Ukraine, the Middle East, and East Asia. Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, Fortem is privately held and backed by Lockheed Martin, DCVC, Toshiba, AE Industrial Partners, AIM13, Signia Venture Partners, and others. Learn more at fortemtech.com.