Assessment of FMCW RADAR and solid-state LiDAR technologies for C-UAS systems

The number of applications for Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) has surged in recent years due to their versatility and ability to collect data in hard-to-reach areas. They are particularly valuable in fields such as aerial photography, infrastructure maintenance, and military intelligence operations. However, these platforms can also be misused for harmful purposes, including attacks on individuals, espionage, and threats to critical infrastructure. To address these risks, counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems are essential for detecting, identifying, tracking, and, if necessary, neutralising unauthorised UAS. Because these targets are typically non-cooperative, C-UAS solutions often rely on active detection technologies such as optical LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and PMCW RADAR (Phase Modulated Continuous Wave Radar). These systems offer important advantages over passive monitoring methods, especially in terms of reliability under varying lighting conditions. This work presents an assessment of both technologies for UAS surveillance, focusing on key aspects such as identification capabilities, detection range, and real-time edge processing. To support the study, empirical tests were conducted using several commercial sensors and UAV models