Thursday, October 30, 2025

Software-Driven Radar Upgrade Doubles Detection Range


Ukraine’s latest radar developments turning the tide in the skies - YouTube

Drone Warfare Dominates Ukraine Battlefield

Dutch firm Robin Radar Systems extends IRIS counter-drone detection from 5 to 12 kilometers through AI-powered software, addressing threat that now causes up to 80% of combat casualties

By Stephen L Pendergast with Claude Anthropic
October 30, 2025

As unmanned aerial systems fundamentally reshape modern warfare, a critical technology gap is closing. Robin Radar Systems has unveiled a software-only upgrade to its battlefield-proven IRIS counter-drone radar that more than doubles its detection range—from 5 kilometers to 12 kilometers—providing defenders with precious additional seconds to respond to incoming threats.

The upgrade arrives at a pivotal moment. Attack drones now account for 70 to 80 percent of all battlefield casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Western officials, marking a fundamental shift from traditional artillery-based combat. Ukraine currently faces at least 100 one-way attack drones every day—approximately one every 15 minutes.

Battlefield-Tested Innovation

The IRIS Long-Range Mode was developed and stress-tested through extensive deployments in Ukraine, shaped by direct feedback from Ukrainian operators, said Robin Radar Systems CEO Siete Hamminga. The system now provides critical early warning against fast-moving Shahed loitering munitions and other fixed-wing drones.

"This upgrade isn't just about range—it's about time," said Kristian Brost, General Manager of Robin Radar USA. "Every extra kilometer of detection gives defenders more precious seconds to react, more chances to protect critical infrastructure, and ultimately, more lives saved."

The 29-kilogram system delivers 360-degree azimuth coverage and can operate while mounted on moving vehicles traveling up to 100 kilometers per hour. The radar requires no hardware replacement, allowing all existing IRIS units to be upgraded in the field.

The Evolving Shahed Threat

The Shahed drone, Iran's most widely exported military technology, has become synonymous with Russia's aerial assault campaign. The Iranian-designed Shahed-136, produced by Russia as the Geran-2, weighs approximately 200 kilograms and travels at speeds exceeding 180 kilometers per hour. These systems can cover approximately 2,500 kilometers and are priced up to $80,000 each.

Russia has continuously modified the design to make detection more difficult. New jet-powered variants now travel between 380 and 400 kilometers per hour, with recorded speeds reaching 477 kilometers per hour. The jet-powered Geran-3 variant can reach altitudes of 9,000 meters and carries warheads weighing between 50 and 300 kilograms.

Russia now produces more than 5,000 long-range drones each month—approximately 2,700 Geran strike drones and 2,500 decoy models, marking nearly a fivefold increase since summer 2024.

AI-Powered Precision

The IRIS radar's effectiveness stems from sophisticated micro-Doppler technology and deep neural networks trained on battlefield data. The system focuses on the unique micro-Doppler signatures emitted by drones during flight, building a database that distinguishes between birds, drones, and other airborne objects instantaneously.

The deep neural network analyzes behavioral characteristics such as speed, flight patterns, and size, enabling precise classification of aerial targets. This AI integration has achieved what the manufacturer describes as "a very low false positive rate," ensuring operators receive alerts only for genuine threats rather than wildlife.

The system underwent several upgrades driven by Ukrainian Armed Forces' demand for mobile counter-drone capabilities, including enhancements to track fast first-person-view (FPV) drones that conventional radars struggled to detect.

Strategic Deployment

More than 200 Robin Radar systems are now deployed in Ukraine, protecting critical infrastructure, supporting frontline operations, and adapting to evolving drone threats. The Dutch Ministry of Defence purchased 51 IRIS radars in 2023, ordered another 51 in 2024 with on-the-move capability, and doubled that order in 2025—all for donation to Ukraine.

The radar costs less than $1 million per unit, according to Hamminga—significantly below the €500,000 starting price cited in earlier marketing materials. This positions IRIS as a comparatively affordable option in the counter-drone market, though still a substantial investment for many potential users.

The battlefield-tested technology is being rolled out to European Ministries of Defence and Interior, as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Broader Drone Warfare Impact

The dominance of drones extends beyond traditional combat casualties. Short-range drones killed at least 395 civilians and injured 2,635 between February 2022 and April 2025, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission. In January 2025 alone, short-range drones caused more casualties than any other weapon in Ukraine, accounting for 27 percent of civilian deaths and 30 percent of injuries.

Ukraine claims to have manufactured 2.2 million drones in 2024 and aims to produce 4.5 million in 2025. Russia produces approximately 300 long-range drones daily, compared to Ukraine's 100.

FPV drones have become a central pillar of Ukraine's war effort, inflicting up to 80 percent of Russian battlefield casualties and enabling Ukrainian forces to hold the line despite artillery shell shortages. By early 2025, Ukraine was producing 200,000 FPV drones per month.

Expanding Counter-Drone Market

The surge in drone warfare is driving explosive growth in counter-drone technologies globally. The global anti-drone market was valued at $2.45 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $10.58 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 27.2 percent.

Anti-drone radar technology dominated the counter-drone technology segment in 2024, owing to advanced detection features, long-range capabilities, and high accuracy in differentiating between drones and other aerial objects. The counter-drone radar market specifically stood at $1.2 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach $5.7 billion by 2033.

Robin Radar originated as a bird-spotting technology company in the early 2010s. The company turned to drones as predictable targets to validate its bird-detection radars, a practical decision that proved fortuitous. Drone detection now accounts for the majority of the company's revenue.

Private equity firm Parcom became a majority owner in 2024, positioning the company for growth. Robin Radar expects to end 2025 with around 225 employees, up from approximately 25 in 2020.

Defense Integration and Future Challenges

The IRIS radar typically operates as part of layered defense systems rather than as a standalone solution. Detection systems like IRIS provide situational awareness that enables timely deployment of countermeasures—including electronic warfare systems for signal jamming, kinetic interceptors, and directed energy weapons.

As drone technology advances with faster speeds, stealth features, and autonomous capabilities, the counter-drone industry faces an ongoing arms race. Russia often flies Shaheds at altitudes as low as 100 meters above ground, giving defenders only five or six seconds to find, target, and destroy them.

The jet-powered Geran-3's higher flight ceiling and dive speed reduce the effectiveness of autocannon and machine gun-based defenses, forcing defenders to rely on more expensive surface-to-air missiles like NASAMS or Buk. However, the turbojet engine increases the drone's thermal signature, exposing it to infrared-guided interception.

"As software continues to transform defence, it's our every intention that Robin Radar will hold its position at the forefront of innovation," Hamminga said.

Sources and Citations

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  3. Unmanned Airspace. "Robin Radar increases detection range of its IRIS C-UAS radar." Philip Butterworth-Hayes. September 8, 2025. https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/robin-radar-increases-detection-range-of-its-iris-c-uas-radar/

  4. EDR Magazine. "DSEI 2025 - Robin Radar Systems deploys the LRM module for IRIS radar." Paolo Valpolini. September 20, 2025. https://www.edrmagazine.eu/dsei-2025-robin-radar-systems-deploys-the-lrm-module-for-iris-radar

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