Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec announced that its Roselectronics holding company has created a radar station designed to detect swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The new radar unit, named Sokol-08, uses artificial intelligence machine learning algorithms to identify and track targets as small as a small bird alongside coordinated groups of drones.
According to Rostec, the station relies on an X-band two-dimensional phased array antenna, enabling the system to effectively pinpoint low-flying and low-observable aerial threats. X-band radar frequencies operate at shorter wavelengths to deliver high spatial resolution, allowing defense equipment to distinguish tiny targets at extended ranges, while phased array technology uses electronically steered radio signals to scan airspace rapidly without requiring mechanical rotation.
Rostec said the Sokol-08 offers both a 360-degree circular scanning mode and a 90-degree sector scanning mode. The radar can simultaneously detect up to 100 objects while filtering out false targets, and the entire assembly weighs less than 28 kilograms, featuring high operational autonomy and rapid deployment capabilities in field conditions.
Advanced drone detection technology
State corporation Rostec is Russia's primary defense industry holding, managing hundreds of research institutes, design bureaus, and industrial manufacturing plants across the country. Its subsidiary, Roselectronics, specializes in the research and production of radio-electronic systems, specialized military components, electronic warfare infrastructure, and advanced radar equipment for military and civilian applications.
Unmanned aerial vehicle swarms use networked communications to coordinate maneuvers among multiple small drones, allowing them to saturate air defense networks. Compact radar systems like the Sokol-08 are intended to fill gaps in early warning coverage by identifying low-signature targets before they reach critical assets.
The announcement comes amid broader regional efforts to counter low-altitude aerial threats. In August, the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus reported that the country's armed forces had officially adopted the Stena counter-drone system. The Belarusian state authority oversees defense exports and military hardware development for the nation, which maintains close security ties with Russia.
Ground robotic integration
In another anti-drone development, Russian media reported in July that the Nerekhta ground robotic complex had received a specialized air defense modification. Newspaper Izvestia stated that the tracked uncrewed ground vehicle was updated to function as an air defense robot. The Nerekhta platform is an autonomous armored tracked vehicle designed to assist infantry units with tactical reconnaissance, transport, and automated firepower.
