Teledyne FLIR Defense has released new software upgrades for its Ranger radar systems, aimed at improving detection speed and accuracy for military and civil security users operating in complex threat environments.
Announced on February 5, the enhancements apply to the Ranger R8-3DX and Ranger R20SS radars, which are widely used for border surveillance, force protection and counter-UAS missions. According to the company, the updates are intended to provide earlier warning and more reliable tracking of aerial targets, including small drones.
A key change is the introduction of Fast Scan technology, which significantly increases radar rotation speeds. The R8-3DX can now rotate at up to 60 revolutions per minute, while the R20SS reaches 30 RPM. This compares with previous scan rates of around 8 degrees per second, allowing operators to receive more frequent updates and detect fast-moving or fleeting targets sooner.
The R8-3DX has also gained up to 20 percent additional elevation coverage, reducing the area directly above the radar that can be difficult to monitor. This improvement is intended to enhance detection of higher-altitude threats, including small unmanned aircraft operating above traditional surveillance envelopes.
Teledyne FLIR said the software retains sensitivity to slow-moving targets, with detection down to 0.1 metres per second in radial velocity, while reducing false alarms through updated processing algorithms. The upgrades also incorporate AI-enabled radar processing to improve target classification, a feature aimed at reducing operator workload in busy environments.
Pierre Poitevin, vice president of Radar Systems at Teledyne FLIR Defense, said the changes were designed to increase scan speed and coverage without compromising accuracy. He noted that the faster scanning could be particularly relevant for applications such as prison airspace security, where rapid identification of drone activity is required to prevent illicit deliveries.
The upgraded software is being rolled out across deployed Ranger systems, supporting existing users without changes to radar hardware.
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Post Image Credit: Teledyne FLIR
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