Blighter Surveillance Systems launches new counter-drone radar

The UK’s Blighter Surveillance Systems has launched the A800 3D unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection radar, designed for land, air, and sea surveillance, according to a 24 September press release.

The A800’s main function is to “detect and locate commercial ‘hobby’ drones in 3D space. Its optimised air security mode provides a unique ability to search for low-slow-small (LSS) threats,” the press release states.

Mark Radford, the chief technology officer at Blighter, added that the system is designed for “multi-domain integration in military perimeter and border security protection and manoeuvre force missions” in a 24 September email to Janes .

He added that it is based on the battle-proven A400 2D air surveillance radar technology. The addition of a 3D detection capability, however, enables the user to gain information on the altitude of any detected UAVs, as well as its location in azimuth and range.

The radar generates a scanning cone that is 90° wide by 40° high, although high-flying targets can still be detected outside this scanning cone, according to the Blighter website.