IDF Procures Hundreds of Tactical Radars to Detect Drones After Fatal Attacks

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are acquiring hundreds of tactical radar systems from the Israeli manufacturer Magos in a 21 million shekel deal with the Ministry of Defense's Research and Development Directorate (Mafat). These affordable, short-range radars are designed to detect drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), addressing the recent threat posed by Hezbollah's optical fiber drones, which have caused the deaths of over 15 IDF soldiers in the past two months.

Hezbollah exploits Lebanon's mountainous terrain to evade radar detection, making early identification of these fast, maneuverable drones critical for interception. The new deployment of hundreds of mobile radars will expand coverage in previously limited areas, providing timely alerts to IDF forces. These troops are already equipped with specialized shotguns, smart targeting rifles, and other advanced means to neutralize moving aerial threats.

Magos, founded in 2010 and controlled by Afcon Group and Johnson Controls, developed these lightweight radars using MIMO beamforming technology. Their low power consumption, compact size, and portability make them ideal for tactical units and remote sites. Magos serves diverse global clients, including critical infrastructure and government agencies, and plans to expand its business in India soon.

Magos CEO Aviel Kisliansky stated that their system integrates advanced radar hardware with an AI-powered command and control platform (MASS AI). This unified system combines radar and camera data to provide a real-time, multidimensional threat picture, accurately classifying humans, vehicles, and drones. It also effectively filters false alarms caused by wildlife or environmental movements and operates reliably in challenging weather conditions.