Ukrainian company ARes has engineered a sophisticated acoustic targeting system capable of locking onto aerial threats in the most challenging conditions. The passive system utilizes advanced beamforming technology to detect everything from FPVs to “Shaheds” without emitting a single signal.
Kostyantyn Kostin, a representative of ARes, presented the development during the Brave1 Components exhibition. The system is designed to fill a critical gap in air defense, offering precise coordinates for neutralization systems rather than simple detection.
Operational Capabilities
The system scans the entire hemisphere, monitoring the sky in all directions simultaneously. According to Kostin, the solution is designed to “detect various types of unmanned aerial vehicles — from FPV drones to ‘Shaheds'”.
Field tests have confirmed the system’s effectiveness across different ranges:
FPV Drones: Detection and targeting at 200–300 meters.
Shahed Drones: Detection range of up to 5 kilometers.
Crucially, the complex is completely passive – it emits no signals, making it invisible to enemy electronic warfare. It remains operational in cloud cover, fog, and at any time of day.
Technology Under the Hood
The core of the system lies in its phased microphone array and beamforming technology. The device scans the airspace with millions of sound “beams”, allowing it to distinguish between loud and quiet sources and identify each one individually. This capability allows it to track multiple targets simultaneously, even in noisy urban environments.
For operator efficiency, the hardware includes a webcam interface. The video feed is overlaid with an “acoustic projection”, allowing the operator to visualize the exact direction of the target’s movement.
Tested in Combat Conditions
The developers emphasize that the system “not only detects the target but also provides precise targeting for engagement means”.
The technology has already undergone rigorous testing in real-world combat scenarios, including:
“Shahed” attacks;
Cruise missile launches;
Field trials against FPV drones.
Future Integration
ARes specialists are currently developing a compact version of the complex intended for installation on ground drones (UGVs). This mobile integration aims to protect logistics routes and counter FPV attacks more effectively.
While the system utilizes some imported components, the critical circuit boards and software were developed in-house by the company. ARes is currently awaiting a grant from the Brave1 cluster to launch batch production for the military.
Source: MILITARNYI
