Dutch-headquartered company Robin Radar Systems, which also has an US office in Virginia, unveiled on 8 September 2025 what it described as a breakthrough software upgrade to its flagship IRIS counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) radar, extending its detection range from 5 km to 12 km.
The upgrade, according to Robin Radar, makes the IRIS system one of the first off-the-shelf radars proven to detect and classify Shahed loitering munitions used by Russia in Ukraine at long distances, providing operators with crucial early warning against one of Russia’s most widely used weapons.
The new Long-Range Mode (LRM) was first developed and stress-tested through Robin’s significant number of IRIS deployments in Ukraine, where Shahed drones have become a near-daily threat to critical infrastructure. Direct feedback from Ukrainian operators has been fed back into Robin’s development cycle, enabling the company to deliver the upgrade in record time.
“Unlike costly missile-tracking radars, IRIS is a compact and lightweight mobile system that can be deployed in minutes and integrated seamlessly into multi-sensor CUAS architectures,” Robin Radar stated in a press release. “The software-only upgrade requires no hardware replacement, ensuring all IRIS units can be field upgraded.”
For Ukrainian forces the 12 km range will offer a potentially life-saving window of warning to prepare for incoming Shaheds, which travel at over 180 km/h. For US and European customers the battlefield-tested technology is set to be rolled out to critical government agencies, including key European defence and interior ministries, as well as the US Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology, “to ensure domestic innovations reflect the best available technology currently being used in live conflict zones,” Robin Radar stated.
Siete Hamminga, CEO of Robin Radar Systems, was quoted as stating, “This upgrade marks a step-change in what counter-drone radar can achieve. By listening to our users on the front line, we’ve redefined the capabilities of an off-the-shelf system, delivering a battlefield-proven solution that is now being made available worldwide. As software continues to transform defence, Robin Radar will hold its position at the forefront of innovation.”
Kristian Brost, general manager of Robin Radar USA, added, “This upgrade isn’t just about range; it’s about time. Every extra kilometre of detection gives defenders more precious seconds to react, more chances to protect critical infrastructure and, ultimately, more lives saved. By delivering this leap forward entirely through software, we’re showing how the decisive edge in counter-drone defence is no longer just built; it’s coded.”
