Echodyne has been selected to supply radar technology for a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) developed by Trust Automation under a US Air Force contract valued at up to $490 million.
As part of the program, Echodyne’s EchoShield radar will be integrated into Trust Automation’s Small Unmanned Air Defense System (SUADS), a modular family of platforms tailored for multiple operational scenarios. These include a palletized, rapidly deployable configuration for airlift, a fixed installation for base defense, and a compact expeditionary version designed for mobile missions with minimal logistical support.
The systems are built in accordance with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) standard, allowing seamless integration of diverse sensors and subsystems.
EchoShield is a medium-range radar capable of detecting, tracking, and classifying aerial targets while delivering precise geolocation data for counter-drone operations. It leverages machine learning to enhance target identification and can cue additional systems such as electro-optical sensors or interceptors, reducing response times.
In terms of capability, the radar can detect very small drones at approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles), track quadcopter-class systems at around 3 kilometers (1.9 miles), identify larger multirotor drones at roughly 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles), and detect small fixed-wing UAVs at distances of up to 7.9 kilometers (4.9 miles).
