Software and security are not only about digital break-ins every day. So this time, something different: what about the ever-thickening layer of software on top of hardware techniques, such as radar technology? And how effective and practical is it, really?
In times of geopolitical challenges, solutions are sought in all directions, including in engineering and technology. After all, it plays an increasingly important role in modern societies, even when it sometimes feels like we are living slightly less together.
The use of defensive technology is as old as humanity itself. Yet we have never lived in times with so much electronics around us. Electronics that support us in daily life. But how do you rapidly protect a society that has become dependent on that very same technology?
In modern conflicts, drones seem to have become indispensable. Whether as a high-flying scout or a carrier of explosives, drones are everywhere.
And then the question arises: how can we defend against them?
Radar is nothing new. But the way we use it today is. And what it turns out, radar is still radar. The modern twist on this familiar technology mainly consists of a thick layer of software.
Back to basics for a moment: radar emits radio waves and then listens for the echoes that bounce back. A signal comes from an antenna, and a receiver dish captures the reflected waves. With some calculations, you can determine how far away something is and how large it is.
That worked fine for years, especially for airplanes. Ideally, aircraft use a transponder, like ADS-B. Just as ships do today, they voluntarily broadcast their location and some additional information.
But in times of conflict, such courtesy is not guaranteed. Then you have to rely on old-fashioned ground radar, which can “see” various objects in the air without them emitting anything.
Here the challenge begins, especially when it comes to drones. Their radar reflection, or RCS (radar cross-section), is many times smaller than that of a passenger aircraft. And drones vary enormously: one is smaller than a bird, sometimes with four horizontal rotors; another is larger, with a jet-powered engine, which makes it more stable and faster in flight.
The basics of radar detection have remained the same for decades: emitting and receiving radio waves. That differs fundamentally from acoustic detection, for example, which is often used as a supplementary method. What has changed in radar, however, are the antennas and signal processing. Thanks to advanced phased arrays and software, modern radar can now be so sensitive that even very small drones, sometimes no larger than a bird, can be effectively detected under the right conditions.
And then comes the core question: how do you distinguish a bird from a drone? This is where complex software analysis comes into play.
When modern radar detects something, a significant layer of software analysis follows. It looks not only at the RCS, but also at micro-Doppler patterns, movements characteristic of rotor blades or propellers, and unusual flight behavior. Sometimes stored patterns are consulted, heuristic recognition is applied, and in some systems, additional sensors are even used, such as visual, acoustic, or infrared sensors.
Detection remains an immense challenge. Correct classification, quickly and reliably, is essential for subsequent decision-making. In situations that require rapid action, every effort is made to minimize risks, for example by establishing no-fly zones. Except for birds, of course. Densely populated areas also bring extra challenges. This has made the software rapidly complex.
Modern drone detection shows how far technology can go, but also where the limits seem to lie: birds, weather conditions, or unconventional drones can still cause confusion. Detection is possible, identification often, but perfection seems unattainable. Ultimately, it comes down to a balance between essential innovation, financial feasibility, and what seems practically safe. At least today; tomorrow the situation may be different again.