Spyglass seeks to enhance short-range drone detection
New solid-state radar employs Ku-band phased array technology to detect small UAVs.
Numerica on 18 February launched a new solid-state 3D radar called Spyglass for C-UAS and short-range air defence missions.
The company worked with fellow US-based firms Liteye and NEOTech on development of Spyglass. Liteye will be the exclusive distributor of the radar.
According to Numerica, the simultaneous transmit and receive design of Spyglass offers an advantage over traditional pulse Doppler radar technology, which can fail to detect close-range threats.
‘Spyglass was born out of our first-hand experience with gaps in the short-range radar market,’ said Nate Knight, VP of air and missile defence at Numerica. ‘The rapidly-growing autonomous drone threat presented an opportunity to turn our attention to building a new radar from the ground up… [by] applying our proven radar processing and tracking technologies in new ways.’
The vehicle-mounted Spyglass employs Ku-band phased array technology for highly precise measurements, with the aim of improving targeting and classification performance at longer ranges and providing critical time for decision making and threat mitigation.
The short-range radar is designed to locate and track small UAS at ranges beyond 3.5km. Advanced signal processing algorithms and autonomy extend the detection range of the 3D radar.
With embedded C2 and AI software, Spyglass is designed to enable broad-area autonomous sensor networks. Software-defined operating modes enable rapid customisation to specific mission requirements.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality]()
Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality
Artificial intelligence has supported C2 systems and decision-making for more than two decades. It has gradually built up a head of steam in the 2020s, but what is it achieving today and what role could it play in the future?
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Sean O’Neill, Senior Business Development Manager with Iris Technology, discusses the growing importance of tactical power management systems for modern military operations.
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Austin Farnham, President of Octane Wireless, discusses how direct feedback from special operations forces is helping shape the next generation of battlefield communications technology.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system]()
World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system
The Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Poland and the US Army with another 20 countries believed to have expressed an interest.
-
![Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials]()
Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials
The Thales DigitalCrew package, first unveiled at last year’s Defence IQ International Armoured Vehicles conference, is designed to merge imaging and apply a layer of decision-making and observation algorithms to support crew and other personnel.
-
![Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool]()
Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
