Honeywell Aerospace is advancing defense innovation with its Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS), a modular solution designed to detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats. The program’s development has been shaped by the leadership and operational insight of Norm Balchunas, Senior Director of Business Development, whose decades of military experience continue to guide Honeywell’s defense initiatives.
Raised in a family with a strong tradition of military service, Balchunas pursued a career in aviation, joining the U.S. Air Force as a navigator and aviator on the B-52 bomber. His experience operating and sustaining legacy aircraft instilled a deep understanding of modernization and long-term platform viability. After retiring from active duty, he transitioned into leadership roles in electronic warfare, cybersecurity, and directed energy, eventually joining Honeywell to lead strategic campaigns in next-generation defense technologies.
When the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command identified the need for a rapid, flexible response to swarm drone threats targeting high-value assets, Honeywell was selected to lead the integration effort. With Balchunas’s strategic guidance and defense community relationships, the company developed the first Honeywell C-UAS prototype in just four months.
The software-defined, modular architecture of Honeywell C-UAS enables reconfiguration and deployment across diverse environments, including vehicles, fixed installations, naval vessels, and drones. The system integrates radar, electro-optical sensors, acoustic detection, cyber tools, and drone-on-drone engagement within an open framework designed to incorporate new technologies as threats evolve.
While the system was developed for military applications, Balchunas envisions future use across civilian sectors, including airports, stadiums, and critical infrastructure sites, where unauthorized drones could pose security risks. By combining Honeywell’s legacy in avionics and sensors with advanced software and digital engineering, Balchunas and his team are contributing to a new generation of defense solutions built on speed, adaptability, and mission readiness.
