Fortem Technologies TrueView R30

The TrueView R30 from Fortem Technologies (USA) is a 3D AESA radar for detecting and tracking small drones that fly low and slow. It is a sensor of Fortem SkyDome and of the portable C-UAS kit and can be run portable or stationary. The manufacturer names military use and critical infrastructure as fields of use.

The radar has 256 receive elements and 16 digital channels. One unit sees up to 120 degrees in azimuth and the same in elevation; four units give 360 degrees according to the product page. Angular accuracy is ±1 degree and track update runs from 64 ms to 3 s. The minimum radial velocity of 0.15 m/s is the smallest closing or receding speed the radar can still separate from stationary echoes; it says how well very slow targets are picked up. Up to 50 targets are tracked at once. The unit measures 429 × 281 × 95.8 mm, weighs 7.0 kg, works from −40 to +55 °C and transmits at 7.9 W (+39 dBm).

Radars transmit too: in Germany every use of a frequency needs an assignment from the Bundesnetzagentur (Section 91(1) TKG), even at a transmit power of 7.9 W. How frequency use is regulated in Poland has to be clarified with the competent authorities before deployment. The radar detects and tracks; jammers may be operated only by authorities in Germany and Poland (Section 91 TKG, Article 42 of the Polish Electronic Communications Law).

In selection, the range for one’s own target size has to be requested from the manufacturer with its radar-cross-section reference. Site and number of units matter: four units cover 360 degrees. The temperature range of −40 to +55 °C supports year-round outdoor use. With no rotating antenna there is no drive wear; mount, connectors, power supply in mobile use and firmware need checking. Cameras and RF detectors complement the tracks for classification.