KONGSBERG Selects Echodyne MESA Radar Platform to Enhance Weapon Systems' Drone Tracking Capabilities

Norwegian defense company KONGSBERG has selected Echodyne's MESA radar platform for use in multiple air and ground missions, with the first project being its PROTECTOR remote weapon station. The compact radar has been integrated into the PROTECTOR RS4 and RS6 systems. This collaboration combines KONGSBERG's weapon station architecture and collaborative fire control capabilities with Echodyne's solid-state radar. The system is designed to support static, manned, and unmanned platforms, helping them detect, track, and engage fast-moving drones.

Compared to traditional high-performance electronically scanned array radars, the system requires less space, weight, and power.

The Advantages of MESA Radar

The compact radar enhances the functionality of the weapon station, and the integrated PROTECTOR system can obtain precise radar data, contributing to the effectiveness of the counter-drone system. MESA provides range, range rate, azimuth, and motion data while maintaining stable tracking of low-radar-signature agile targets. This data enables the radar to guide and stabilize the weapon station's optical fire control system onto the target. According to Echodyne, this combination helps the system maintain target lock, reduce the time between detection and engagement, and increase the chances of hitting drones.

Echodyne CEO Eben Frankenberg stated, "KONGSBERG has set the standard for remote weapon systems through decades of field experience, rigorous engineering, and close collaboration with operators. Integrating MESA radar gives the PROTECTOR family precise, stable, and continuous tracking, which is critical for guiding fire control systems, maintaining target lock, and responding decisively to fast-moving, low-signature drone threats." He added, "Equally important, MESA delivers this performance in a compact, software-defined package that can scale across a large installed base and adapt as threats evolve."

The Role of Radar in Fire Control Systems

The radar supports precise airburst timing, which is particularly important when the PROTECTOR weapon station uses programmable airburst ammunition. Range and range rate information help the fire control system adjust the timing of the ammunition to ensure its effect occurs at a predetermined point in the drone's flight path. MESA can also operate as part of a broader network of sensors and weapon systems. A collaborative search radar or other sensors can initially detect the threat and send tracking information to the PROTECTOR station equipped with radar. The local radar can then refine the incoming information, maintain tracking, and provide the data needed for fire control.

This process allows the distributed system to share an airspace picture, allocate targets, and quickly switch attention when dealing with individual threats.

Future Technological Developments

Echodyne and KONGSBERG have spent years integrating, testing, and demonstrating the radar-enabled system under field conditions. This work reflects KONGSBERG's approach of validating new capabilities through practical testing before wider deployment. In addition to the integration of RS4 and RS6, the two companies are exploring how high-performance radar can support other air and ground missions in KONGSBERG's portfolio. Their ongoing technical work will focus on resilient sensing, networked fire control, and scalable protection capabilities as threats evolve.

The two companies will exhibit at the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, Poland, from September 8 to 11, 2026.

The Future of KONGSBERG and Echodyne's Collaboration

The collaboration between KONGSBERG and Echodyne highlights the importance of modern weapon systems in addressing drone threats. The integration of MESA radar not only enhances the tracking capabilities of weapon systems but also allows for flexible application in various combat environments. This technological development reflects the increasing demand for precision strikes, especially in the context of the growing prevalence of drones. As threats evolve, continuous technological innovation will be an important component of future defense strategies, supporting different missions.