Echodyne will provide radar technology for a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) platform developed by Trust Automation under a US Air Force contract worth up to $490 million.
Under this framework, Echodyne’s EchoShield radar is being integrated into Trust Automation’s Small Unmanned Air Defense System (SUADS), a family of platforms designed for various deployment scenarios.
These include a rapidly deployable version mounted on standard pallets for air transport, a fixed-site configuration for base protection, and a more compact expeditionary variant for mobile operations with limited logistical support.
The systems are built in line with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture standard, enabling integration of multiple sensors and components.
Echodyne’s technology integration “enhances both detection range and accuracy, enabling operators to identify threats sooner and respond with greater confidence,” said Ty Safreno, CEO at Trust Automation.
“These systems provide agile, comprehensive C-sUAS capability that helps protect warfighters and critical facilities through elevated situational awareness.”
EchoShield Radar
EchoShield is a medium-range radar designed to detect, track, and classify aerial targets, providing precise location data for counter-drone operations.
It can distinguish between different types of objects and uses machine learning to improve identification accuracy, with data that can guide other systems such as electro-optical sensors or interception tools, helping reduce response time.
In terms of performance, the system can detect very small unmanned aerial systems at around 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles), while small quadcopter-type drones can be tracked at approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles).
Larger multirotor drones extend detection to about 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles), and small fixed-wing drones can be detected at up to 7.9 kilometers (4.9 miles).
