Echodyne has been named the primary radar provider for Trust Automation’s Small-Unmanned Air Defense System (SUADS) family, which is being delivered to the U.S. Air Force under a $490 million IDIQ contract awarded in August 2025.

The EchoShield radar will be integrated across three SUADS variants: the Rapidly Deployable SUADS (RD-SUADS), a self-contained, self-powered system palletized for transport via military aircraft; the Fixed Site SUADS (FS-SUADS), designed for permanent installations and configurable as a group or standalone for 360-degree base protection; and the Expeditionary SUADS (EX-SUADS), sized for transport by vehicle and as checked baggage. All three platforms adhere to the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) standard, with EchoShield identified as the first fully integrated SOSA radar solution in the platform. 

EchoShield uses recursive neural network machine learning models for target classification and tracking, directing operator attention to threats as they emerge. Echodyne’s underlying MESA (metamaterials electronically scanned array) architecture uses standard materials and manufacturing processes to deliver solid-state, low-SWaP performance at reduced unit cost — a design philosophy directly relevant to the cost-exchange dynamics that define the C-UAS procurement environment.

“The new table stakes for every defensive system is actionable data at the range of reaction and with the precision to consistently direct kinetic effectors onto fast, nimble, UAS threats,” said Eben Frankenberg, CEO of Echodyne. Trust Automation CEO Ty Safreno said the integration “enhances both detection range and accuracy, enabling operators to identify threats sooner and respond with greater confidence.”