Navy wants better tech to detect small boats

The Navy wants synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to spot small boats.

"Traditionally SAR has been used to provide imagery of fixed structures on land," according to the Navy research solicitation. "Objects moving in the scene were unfocused and generally not of value. For large vessels at sea in relatively calm conditions, some advanced focusing algorithms are able to provide high quality imagery but are not useful for small vessels with very dynamic movements."

Resource: Read the research solicitation

SAR allows sensor platforms to operate at higher altitudes and at steeper angles than other sensors.

More In Sensors

Babcock, Frankenburg plan launcher for ‘smallest’ anti-drone missile

Tallinn, Estonia-based Frankenburg says it aims to develop missile systems that are ten times cheaper and a hundred times faster to produce.

Germany to host small-drones production line for Ukrainian forces

Production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and is envisioned to reach 10,000 units of Zoom and Linza drones per year later on.

Turkish defense ministry describes tricky shoot-down of wayward drone

The Turkish armed forces have previously had to neutralize unmanned surface vessels and drifting sea mines arriving from across the Black Sea.

Belgium doubles down on drone defenses following mystery flights

The ramp-up is part of the country’s €50 million ($59 million) anti-drone plan in the wake of a recent surge in illegal drone overflights.

Kongsberg, Helsing team up for European satellite-intel constellation

The cooperation will include setting up local satellite production in Germany to create “a self-reliant European defense capability,” the companies said.