- Category
- Latest news
Ukraine’s Fight With Shaheds Spurs Breakthrough: Robin Radar Almost Triples IRIS Detection Range
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
![Photo of Tetiana Frolova]( "Photo of Tetiana Frolova")
Robin Radar Systems has introduced a major upgrade to its IRIS counter-drone radar, tripling its detection range from 5 kilometers to 12 kilometers, the company announced on September 8.
The developers say that this is a software-only update, developed directly from feedback provided by Ukrainian operators, which could give frontline defenders critical extra time to intercept Shahed drones.
The new “Long-Range Mode” has already been tested in Ukraine, where Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munitions have become a near-daily threat.
According to Robin Radar, the ability to detect drones flying at more than 180 km/h (111 mph) from a distance of 12 km could be the difference between saving critical infrastructure and watching it destroyed.
“This upgrade isn’t just about range—it’s about time. Every extra kilometer of detection gives defenders more precious seconds to react, more chances to protect critical infrastructure, and ultimately, more lives saved,” said Kristian Brost, General Manager of Robin Radar USA.
Unlike large missile-tracking systems, the IRIS radar is compact and highly mobile, capable of being deployed in minutes. Because the new function is delivered entirely through software, no hardware modifications are needed—meaning every IRIS unit already in service can be upgraded in the field.
Robin Radar markets IRIS as a relatively low-cost counter-drone option that can be integrated into multi-sensor defense systems.
The company says the new Long-Range Mode will now be available not only to Ukrainian forces, but also to European defense and interior ministries, as well as the US Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate.
“By listening to our users on the frontline, we’ve redefined the capabilities of an off-the-shelf system, delivering a battlefield-proven solution that is now being made available worldwide,” said Siete Hamminga, CEO of Robin Radar Systems.
The company emphasizes that its radars are designed to distinguish drones from birds and other small objects, with some models even able to operate while mounted on moving vehicles.
That mobility, combined with a longer detection range, makes them harder for adversaries to target while providing continuous coverage against air threats.
For Ukrainian defenders, who face nightly Shahed attacks, the upgrade represents something simpler but essential: more time to respond.
Earlier, the Dutch Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Robin Radar Systems in The Hague to purchase 51 mobile radar units designed to detect small drones and differentiate them from other objects, such as birds.
