Echodyne selected as radar provider for Trust Automation’s U.S. Air Force counter-UAS engineering contract

By Lukasz Prus (Defence Industry Europe)

Echodyne has been selected as a primary radar provider for a U.S. Air Force counter-unmanned aerial system program led by Trust Automation. The selection supports a $490 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract awarded in August 2025.
Photo: Echodyne.

Echodyne has been selected as a primary radar provider for a U.S. Air Force counter-unmanned aerial system program led by Trust Automation. The selection supports a $490 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract awarded in August 2025.

 

Echodyne’s EchoShield radar will be integrated into Trust Automation’s Small-Unmanned Air Defense System platforms. These include rapidly deployable, fixed-site and expeditionary variants designed for different operational environments.

The systems are built to comply with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture standard, with EchoShield identified as the first fully integrated SOSA radar within the platform. The configurations are designed for flexibility, ranging from palletized systems transportable by military aircraft to fixed installations providing continuous base protection.

The expeditionary version is designed for mobility, with equipment sized for transport in vehicles and as checked baggage. Across all variants, the systems aim to provide detection and situational awareness against drone threats.

EchoShield is described as a medium-range radar capable of generating precise location data for various unmanned aerial systems. It uses machine learning models to classify and track targets, supporting faster response times and improved targeting.

 

 

Eben Frankenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Echodyne, said: “It is becoming more and more evident that the fidelity of radar data, its accuracy in all data dimensions, is a critical attribute of any radarsystem.” He added: “The new table stakes for every defensive system is actionable data at the range of reaction and with the precision to consistently direct kinetic effectors onto fast, nimble, UAS threats.”

The radar system uses standard interfaces and commercial-off-the-shelf components to integrate with sensors and effectors. This approach is intended to improve coordination between detection and response systems in counter-drone operations.

Ty Safreno, Chief Executive Officer of Trust Automation, said: “Integrating Echodyne’s advanced radar into our RD-SUADS, FS-SUADS, and EX-SUADS systems enhances both detection range and accuracy, enabling operators to identify threats sooner and respond with greater confidence.” He added: “These systems provide agile, comprehensive C-sUAS capability that helps protect warfighters and critical facilities through elevated situational awareness.”

The program reflects growing demand for integrated counter-drone capabilities within U.S. defense systems. Officials said the integration of advanced radar is intended to strengthen detection, tracking and response against evolving aerial threats.

 

Tags:

Related news & articles

Latest news

Featured