Teledyne FLIR Defense has unveiled a substantial software upgrade for its Ranger radar series, designed to provide military and security forces with a decisive edge in detecting modern, low-speed aerial threats like drones. The new “Fast Scan” enhancements, applied to the widely used Ranger R8-3DX and R20SS platforms, dramatically improve scan speeds, elevation coverage, and classification accuracy for border security, base protection, and counter-drone (C-UAS) missions.
The centerpiece of the upgrade is the proprietary Fast Scan technology, which revolutionizes the radar’s surveillance sweep. The R8-3DX can now achieve a full 360-degree rotation at 60 revolutions per minute (RPM), while the R20SS reaches 30 RPM. This marks a radical increase from previous capabilities, translating to earlier threat warnings, higher data refresh rates, and significantly improved tracking accuracy for fast-moving targets. Operators can now detect and assess potential dangers more rapidly and reliably than ever before.
Complementing the speed boost, the R8-3DX also receives a 20% increase in its vertical elevation coverage. This expansion directly shrinks the traditional “cone of silence” above the radar, closing a critical vulnerability and enhancing the system’s ability to detect high-altitude or steeply diving threats, a common profile for hostile drones.
These performance leaps do not come at the expense of sensitivity. Through advanced, patented algorithms, the upgraded radars maintain an exceptional ability to detect extremely slow-moving objects with radial speeds as low as 0.1 meters per second. This ensures that small, hovering, or slow-creeping drones will not be missed. The processing suite simultaneously minimizes false alarms, reducing operator cognitive workload. Furthermore, AI-enabled processing delivers market-leading target classification, helping operators distinguish between birds, benign aircraft, and genuine threats with high confidence.
“These enhancements represent a major leap forward in radar performance,” said Pierre Poitevin, Vice President of Radar Systems at Teledyne FLIR Defense. “By increasing scan speed and vertical coverage without sacrificing accuracy, we’re giving customers the confidence and capability they need to detect targets faster.”
Poitevin highlighted the practical implications for diverse security scenarios, noting, “Our patented Fast Scan technology means low-speed threats will not go undetected, making it a cost-effective solution for applications such as prison air security, where users need to quickly detect drone drop-points to intercept deliveries.”
The upgrades are delivered via software, offering existing customers in the field a powerful capability boost for their deployed Ranger systems without the need for major hardware changes. This reaffirms Teledyne FLIR Defense’s focus on evolving its systems to meet the accelerating demands of contemporary battlefield and critical infrastructure security.
