As part of the Association of the United States Army convention (AUSA 2025), Echodyne presented its radar systems specialized for counter-drone operations (Counter-UAS), focused on providing high geometric accuracy and economic viability for intercepting unmanned aerial threats. Zona Militar has reviewed the company’s offering, which positions itself in the global market with its EchoShield and EchoGuard radars, systems designed to generate actionable data under a commercial classification free from complex ITAR regulations.
Echodyne bases its technical offer on a redesign of the radar antenna, an innovation that, according to the company, has allowed them to achieve performance characteristics superior to conventional electronically scanned systems. The primary focus is achieving high angular accuracy, considered imperative for counter-drone countermeasures operations, since it is necessary “to know really precise coordinates of where things are in the airspace — that’s where we stand out.”
This need for certainty translates into the company’s priority to offer verified tracking ranges, rather than mere detection ranges. According to the representative: “We really don’t publish detection ranges at all. We publish tracking ranges. Because a detection only gives you anxiety. You need actionable data.” This philosophy ensures that the data delivered to the operator and weapon systems are based on a firm target lock, understanding that “in the drone space, close enough is not good enough. You need to know exactly where it is.”
Echodyne markets two main models, differentiated by range and tactical application. The EchoShield, designated as the company’s long-range radar and intended for fixed and vehicle platforms, includes classification capabilities that allow it to distinguish between fixed-wing and multirotor configurations. Its high tracking accuracy aims at operational efficiency: “The radar becomes really smart and relieves the load on everything else. You only point the optics when you know you need to point them.” Meanwhile, the EchoGuard, a lighter system designed to be highly mobile, is intended to provide immediate situational awareness to dismounted troops. Both systems are Doppler and are calibrated to effectively track hovering drones.
Regarding the company’s global expansion, this rests on a key strategic design decision: intentionally avoiding the inclusion of certain features (such as frequency hopping) that would classify their products under ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations). The result is a product classified as commercial dual-use (military and civil/advanced air mobility), which “allows us to have much easier trade externally outside the U.S.” This flexibility facilitates integration and transfer to allied militaries.
Finally, Echodyne’s operational strategy directly addresses Engagement Economics. The company identifies the asymmetric threat of UAS proliferation: “The drone problem revolves around two issues. One is that drones are a challenge, but the other is that they are also very cheap. And that’s what we call engagement economics.” The proposed solution uses the radar’s high precision to integrate with Remote Weapon Station (RWS) fire control systems, enabling the effective use of proximity airburst munitions, which are inherently more cost-effective. This integration seeks to make defense affordable by neutralizing the threat using existing systems and proportionally priced munitions.
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