Israeli radar specialist RADA Electronic Industries is rapidly advancing the performance of its radar systems deployed in Ukraine, integrating real-time feedback from the battlefield to enhance detection accuracy and survivability. The Netanya-based defense firm, known for its hemispheric radar solutions, has been providing continuous software and hardware improvements based on operational insights shared by Ukrainian forces. At the center of this upgrade effort is the Improved Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (ieMHR)—a compact, modular radar system optimized for detecting and tracking diverse aerial threats, including unmanned aerial systems (UAS), cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. Designed for portability, the radar can be mounted on vehicles or deployed as a stationary system, offering tactical flexibility in contested environments. According to RADA, the ieMHR can detect nano-drones up to 10 kilometers, medium drones up to 45 kilometers, and helicopters and low-flying jets up to 35–45 kilometers. It can also identify large transport aircraft at distances of up to 100 kilometers, making it suitable for both front-line and strategic applications. RADA engineers are leveraging combat data collected by Ukrainian operators to fine-tune detection algorithms and reduce false alarms in dense electronic warfare environments. This iterative approach, supported by direct user feedback, enables faster adaptation to emerging aerial threat patterns, particularly as Russian forces employ increasingly diverse drone and missile tactics. Several radar units were supplied through donations from volunteer organizations, including Lithuania’s Blue/Yellow NGO, which delivered systems in 2023 with authorization from the Israeli Ministry of Defense. These systems have since been deployed along key operational sectors to strengthen Ukraine’s short-range air defense network. The collaboration highlights how small radar systems can have an outsized impact on modern asymmetric warfare, where agility, mobility, and adaptability are critical. By continuously upgrading deployed radars, RADA demonstrates how combat-driven innovation can sustain system relevance in fast-evolving threat landscapes, while also expanding the firm’s international defense profile.
