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Echodyne Radars Selected by Zone 5 Technologies for Counter-Drone Defense Solutions

via Business Wire

EchoFlight® and EchoShield® Radars Enhance Zone 5 Paladin C-UAS Interceptor Solution

Echodyne, the radar platform company, today announces that Zone 5 Technologies, a UAS and technology development company founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Luis Obispo, CA, has selected Echodyne as its radar provider for its Paladin Low Collateral Effects Interceptor (LCEI) drone. The Paladin is an autonomous UAS interceptor solution equipped with a quick-swap payload and an advanced battle management system that neutralizes UAS threats – the first of its kind to be added to the Department of Defense (DoD) Blue UAS Cleared List.

As adversary drone threats rapidly evolve, accurately detecting, tracking, and neutralizing hostile drones is critical for force protection and mission success. Paladin needed a radar sensor that could deliver highly accurate airspace data with the lowest size, weight, and power (SWaP). Zone 5 selected EchoFlight airborne MESA® radar for its ideal combination of ultra-low SWaP and superior performance, enabling Paladin to navigate the airspace and achieve mission success.

“The UAS threat is evolving at an unprecedented pace on today’s battlefield. At Zone 5, our mission is to provide warfighters with Counter-UAS solutions that protect them not only from today’s challenges, but from the threats of tomorrow,” said Kyle Woo, Director of Multi-Mission Systems at Zone 5. “Echodyne has consistently delivered on their promise—radars with unmatched reliability, superior performance, and the adaptability to keep pace with our adversaries.”

Mounted on the front of the interceptor, EchoFlight provides highly accurate airspace situational awareness data to precisely track adversary drones. Zone 5 also deploys ground systems using EchoShield, Echodyne’s market-leading medium-range radar that accurately detects and precisely tracks all UAS at low altitude to inform Paladin’s situational awareness and decision-making.

“Echodyne is excited to work alongside Zone 5 to improve mission outcomes and enhance warfighter safety in a rapidly evolving battlefield flooded with drone threats,” said Eben Frankenberg, CEO of Echodyne. “As the UAS threat continues to evolve and become more sophisticated, integrating Echodyne radars with cutting-edge solutions like Zone 5’s Paladin is how we win on the modern battlefield.”

For those interested in learning more about radar’s importance in counter-drone systems, Echodyne’s CTO, Dr. Tom Driscoll, will be speaking on technology trends at SAE Media Group’s Counter UAS Technology USA Conference in Washington, DC (December 1-3, 2025).

About Echodyne

Echodyne, the radar platform company, is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced commercial radar systems for defense, government, and commercial market applications. The company combines patented metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA®) architecture with powerful software and machine learning to deliver high fidelity situational awareness data pinpointing activity in air and surface domains with unrivalled speed, accuracy, and precision. Proven and trusted by militaries, agencies, and critical infrastructure across the globe, Echodyne’s products set a new standard for radar excellence. Privately held, the company is headquartered in Kirkland, WA, USA and backed by Bill Gates, NEA, Madrona Venture Group, Baillie Gifford, and Northrop Grumman, among others. See radar in action at Echodyne.com.

About Zone 5 Technologies, LLC.

Zone 5 Technologies, LLC. is an aerospace engineering and production company focused on UAS, Counter-UAS, Air Launched Munitions, and Flight Control Systems. Founded in 2011, the company is a vertically integrated development and production organization employing more than 200 engineers, technicians, and support staff. Zone 5’s primary focus is the development and fielding of disruptive capabilities in the C-UAS and Air Launched Munition mission areas, utilizing a common modular avionics architecture. Over the past 10 years, Zone 5 has matured its Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) tools and capabilities into an industry leading example of Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) using published standards and model-based design. The IMA are used across programs enabling software reuse, collaboration across programs, and increased development pace.

Zone 5 actively supports flight testing and operations across multiple continents and has significant experience in the test plan approval processes necessary for operations of air launched vehicles from manned aircraft on Government test ranges.

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