MSPO Kielce 2024: Multi-purpose 3D radar ReGuard
The International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2024 in Kielce, Poland, held from September 3 to 6 this year, featured the largest number of exhibitors in the event's history. The number of visitors was also impressive, with attendees traditionally viewing military ground equipment, aviation systems – including unmanned aerial vehicles – air defense systems, various communication technologies and optoelectronics, different types of ammunition, and other military systems and equipment in both the exhibition halls and outdoor areas.
Video: MSPO Kielce 2024: Multi-purpose 3D radar ReGuard / DEFENSE MAGAZINE
At the exhibition, we were particularly interested in a brand-new video presentation showcasing the capabilities of the ReGuard multi-purpose 3D radar, developed by the Czech company Retia. The radar is designed for detecting and tracking ground and low-flying targets, and can be integrated into a broader solution such as the comprehensive ReCas anti-drone system.
ReGuard is a multi-purpose 3D radar capable of detecting and simultaneously tracking ground targets and slow, low-flying objects with a small radar cross-section (LSS, UAV). It operates by scanning the area using electronic beam deflection and can be mounted on either a fixed or rotating base.
The radar is designed for two primary applications: as a stand-alone sensor or as an integral component of a complex system. It can be customized according to the customer's requirements and the nature of the object being monitored, making it highly versatile for addressing various security tasks.
Border protection
When protecting borders, ReGuard ensures that no person, vehicle or drone crosses the border without the radar operator knowing. Not only does ReGuard give an early warning and valuable reaction time to an effective response, but it also protects a wide strip of territory. When ReGuard is suitably located, its range covers up to 13.7 mi (22 km) of border in the horizontal plane and can also detect possible threats up to 5 mi (8 km) behind it.
In an anti-drone system
ReGuard can also be used as the radar sensor in an anti-drone system, where it detects LSS up to a distance of 11 mi (18 km). Its highly accurate data on a target’s position can also be used to guide the reaction to the drone. Every anti-drone solution must have a radar sensor like ReGuard if it wants to provide full protection.
Use in an air defence system
The highly accurate radar data generated by ReGuard , thanks to its high technological sophistication, helps to create a very efficient air defence system when combined with a powerful weapons system, the integration of this data and an efficient system for transferring it.
Protecting important buildings
The increasing cases of UAV intruding into the grounds of nuclear power plants, industrial or development facilities shows just how inadequate the protection against this type of threat is. Effective detection makes it possible to respond in time and prevent material and human loss. ReGuard can pinpoint a small commercial drone at a distance of 6 km, which is its full range when flying at maximum speed. This means the user gains a valuable 15 minutes to respond to the threat.
Protecting airports
Airports are one of the most vulnerable facilities as far as small UAV are concerned. Even if unintentional, simply being present in the airport’s reserved area disrupts its operation and leads to significant economic losses. Unfortunately, there are also examples of the deliberate misuse of drones for terrorist acts, e.g. the threat of deliberately flying a drone into an aircraft engine at takeoff is horrifying. With ReGuard , airport security units acquire a tool that allows them to prevent both minor and completely irreparable damage. In addition, thanks to full records on the flight paths of all drones within range, it makes it very easy to find a drone user who might have posed a risk to running the airport. Last but not least, ReGuard is highly efficient in terms of its range. By using just one sensor it is able to cover almost the entire controlled traffic region (CTR) of the airport.
The radar is offered in 3 configurations:
Portable configuration
The radar head is mounted on a tripod, making it easy and fast to change its position. These advantages can be primarily used for temporarily securing important geographical points or border control.
Static configuration
The radar head is firmly located in a stationary place, such as a building or mast. This configuration is suitable for the long-term security of important objects, such as power plants, airports, chemical plants, industrial plants, etc.
Mobile configuration
The radar head is integrated on the vehicle or on another customer-defined platform. This integration makes it very easy to guard large gatherings, concerts, sports matches or VIP zones.
