Fiber-optic drones may fly without a radio signal, but Israeli firm Arbe Robotics said they cannot hide from its new ultra-high-resolution 4D imaging radar.
The Alerion Radar is designed to detect first-person view (FPV) and fiber-optic drones in challenging environments, tracking the aircraft itself rather than relying on the signals it emits.
It uses a compact, solid-state architecture that reportedly meets size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) requirements.
According to the company, this setup supports deployment across fixed infrastructure, vehicles, and portable systems.
Alerion can distinguish drones from birds, vehicles, buildings, and vegetation, helping reduce false alarms while enabling precise cueing for cameras and effectors.
Once detected, the system retains the track regardless of how the hostile drone is controlled or whether its communications are disrupted.
Designed as a sensing layer within multi-sensor counter-UAS architectures, it provides continuous tracking from initial detection to minimum range.
This coverage extends into the critical final-approach zone, where low-altitude flight, rapid maneuvers, and background clutter can make drones difficult to keep in sight.
Spotting Low-Signature Drones
The launch unfolds as inexpensive, low-signature drones pose a growing threat to military operations, critical infrastructure, and public facilities.
Fiber-optic drones present an added challenge because they fly without a radio link, leaving defenders with no control signal to intercept or jam.
Arbe aims to close this detection gap with a counter-drone sensor built to find low, slow, and small aircraft that reflect very little radar energy.
“Drone threats have become one of the most urgent security challenges worldwide, and detection of small drones is a current weakness where defenders are highly exposed,” said Ram Machness, chief executive officer of Arbe.
“Alerion brings … counter-drone defense in a compact platform designed for broad deployment. This opens a significant new market for Arbe.”
The radar has undergone field testing for defense applications and will be showcased at Counter-UAS Homeland Security Europe in London from September 23 to 24.
