The legacy Air Defences were built around a premise that the most common Aerial Threat vector shall be either a small aircraft or a missile, the challenges faced by legacy Air Defence radars is their FOV, Frequency linked RCS limitations and sensitivity. The drones are much smaller, can fly low and slow and thus escape the detection untill these appear at a very close distance.
Detection Sensitivity:
Traditional radars often lack the sensitivity needed to detect small, low-flying drones, which can evade detection due to their size and flight profile.
Urban Clutter Interference:
High levels of interference from buildings, trees, and other structures in urban environments can obscure drone detection and create false positives.
Low Radar Cross Section (RCS):
Small drones have a low RCS, making them less visible to traditional radar systems designed for larger aircraft.
Speed and Altitude Variations:
Drones operate at lower speeds and altitudes, which can fall outside the optimal detection parameters of legacy radars.
Multipath Interference:
Reflections from urban structures can create multiple signal paths, leading to false targets or hidden real targets, complicating accurate detection.
Doppler Shift Challenges:
Traditional radars may struggle to distinguish between drones and other moving objects due to limited Doppler shift capabilities.
Low Altitude Detection Issues:
Legacy radars have difficulty detecting low-altitude drones, which can fly below the radar coverage of traditional systems.
Frequency Bandwidth Limitations:
Traditional radar systems may not use frequency bands optimized for small drone detection, impacting their effectiveness.
Coverage Area Limitations:
Legacy radars might not cover the extensive area required for effective monitoring in urban environments.
Slower Reaction Times:
The slower reaction times of traditional radars can hinder tracking of fast-moving and agile drones.
Frequency Interference from Urban Sources:
Various sources of electromagnetic interference in urban settings can affect the performance of traditional radar systems.
Resolution Issues:
Lower resolution in traditional radars can make it difficult to differentiate small drones from other small objects in the environment.
Adaptability Constraints:
Traditional radar systems may not be as adaptable to rapidly changing environments and might require manual recalibration for optimal performance.
