Powerus Corporation has revealed a counter-drone interceptor that switches from vertical hovering to forward flight without pilot input. The US defense technology company introduced Guardian-3 at the Association of the United States Army’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C.
The aircraft marks the third generation of Powerus’ Guardian interceptor family. Its defining feature is a flight system designed to manage the transition from takeoff to cruise after an operator authorizes launch.
Powerus showcased the interceptor at booth 8341 during the October 12–14 exhibition. However, the company has yet to disclose its specifications, production timeline, or availability.
Hover to cruise
Guardian-3 takes off vertically before hovering like a quadcopter. It then automatically pitches forward into nose-first cruise flight without requiring pilot input.
The transition gives the interceptor two distinct flight modes. Vertical takeoff supports launch from confined spaces, while forward flight allows the aircraft to pursue its intended interception profile.
Powerus has not explained the propulsion architecture behind this transition. It also has not disclosed the aircraft’s speed, range, endurance, or maximum operating altitude. The level of autonomy is a key distinction from Guardian-2. That predecessor introduced semi-autonomous operation, whereas Guardian-3 aims to automate more of the flight sequence.
An operator still authorizes launch. After that approval, the aircraft manages its transition into cruise without continuous manual control.
GPS and thermal control
Guardian-3 places its GPS receiver on the camera gimbal. Powerus says this arrangement keeps the antenna pointed skyward as the aircraft changes orientation during its transition to forward flight.
The design addresses a specific navigation challenge. An aircraft pitching forward changes the orientation of its onboard equipment, potentially affecting how a fixed antenna faces the sky.
Mounting the receiver on a gimbal helps maintain its intended orientation during that maneuver. Powerus has not released navigation accuracy figures or explained how the system handles GPS interference.
Thermal management presents another engineering challenge. Guardian-3 uses ducted cooling for its electronic speed controllers (ESCs), which regulate electrical power supplied to the motors. Powerus says the arrangement maintains airflow during hovering and sustained full-throttle operation. Those conditions place different demands on the cooling system as the aircraft moves between flight modes.
The company has not provided temperature measurements, power consumption figures or details about the cooling ducts. Further specifications would help establish how the system performs under demanding operating conditions.
Automation moves forward
Powerus describes Guardian-3 as the next step in reducing operator workload across its interceptor family. CEO Andrew Fox unveiled the system at AUSA, where defense companies present technologies to Army personnel and industry partners.
Co-founder and President Brett Velicovich said each Guardian generation has transferred more tasks away from the operator. Guardian-3 extends that approach through automated flight transitions. However, autonomous flight does not establish autonomous target engagement. Powerus has not detailed Guardian-3’s target acquisition, tracking, or interception logic.
Its operational capabilities therefore remain difficult to assess. Speed, range, guidance performance, and testing results will help determine how effectively the interceptor can engage aerial threats.