This paper investigates advancements in counter-drone radar technology, driven by three critical incidents highlighting the urgent need for effective drone detection systems: the invasions at London's Gatwick Airport, drone warfare during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Red Sea crisis caused by Houthi rebels. We analyze the low-small-slow (LSS) characteristics of drones, which present significant challenges for radar detection and classification. Through a case study of a commercial multi-layered drone detection system, we explore these challenges in depth. We propose that an effective counter-drone radar must function as a comprehensive sense-and-alert warning system, with key capabilities including 24/7 automatic operation, sufficient detection range, real-time detection response, and reliable recognition. Our demonstrated radar system meets these requirements, equipped with advanced radar detectors and classifiers using Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) technology. It can detect small drones at ranges over 12 km with millisecond-level response times, utilizing geometric information for reliable recognition. This system functions as a true WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) platform, effectively countering drone threats. Looking ahead, we emphasize emerging threats such as OWA drones, FPV drones, and sea drones, particularly in jamming environments, drawing lessons from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea crisis. Continuous advancements in counter-drone radar technology are essential for mitigating these evolving threats.
Counter-drone radar, low-small-slow (LSS) drone, Automatic Tar- get Recognition (ATR).
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