Counter-drone technology at Eurosatory 2024: Aaronia shows Aartos DDS in Paris

Using drones of all kinds – and, not least, countering them: military experts have been considering this topic in theory for years, and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has given it a dynamic of its own. At the Eurosatory trade fair in Paris, Aaronia is presenting Aartos DDS, currently one of the most advanced and efficient counter-drone and drone detection systems.

In war, the use of drones as weapons and for espionage is evolving rapidly. Drones with first-person view (FPV) are increasingly being flown, mostly in small swarms. These FPV drones are usually programmed to avoid the frequencies typically used by such drones. As a result, they remain invisible to most drone detection systems, and most jammers cannot disrupt their radio link.

According to Aaronia, Aartos DDS is “a system with gapless ultra-wideband monitoring in real time” that can reliably detect almost any drone operating with a radio signal. A recent company press release states: “With four different versions that can be modularly adapted to the specific requirements of users, the system is a suitable solution for every purpose.” And further: “From the compact, mobile laptop version X2 for field use to the stationary high-end solution X9 for demanding military use.”

Counter-drone capability with a Smart Jammer

The drones can then be countered with, among other things, the programmable Aartos 360° Smart Jammer. Its most important advantage is its long range of up to ten kilometres. In addition, every frequency range between 400MHz and 6GHz can be individually adjusted or programmed. The Aartos system can be used not only to detect and counter drones but also in electronic warfare: because it monitors all frequencies in real time, it detects public-safety (BOS) radios, radar pulses and also radio-controlled systems (air and ground), which the Smart Jammer can then jam.

Specifically for such scenarios, Aaronia also offers the Spectran V6 MIL, a real-time spectrum analyser built into a powerful, shock-resistant outdoor laptop. According to the Aaronia press release, it captures and visualises signal transmissions in a variety of ways and allows them to be analysed so that any necessary countermeasures can be initiated.