Obsidian™ Counter Drone system

Airfields and Perimeters

Operational challenge

Airfields are a target-rich environment, presenting challenges for Counter Drone and aerial threat systems. QinetiQ have unique experience from our support to UK MOD in supporting aircraft, operating aircraft test and evaluation (T&E) ranges, and building and operating target drones for T&E. We are therefore well-placed to understand your requirements, and develop site-specific solutions.

Beyond Detection

Following drone detection, QinetiQ's Obsidian system utilises a range of sensor technologies, such as powerful day/night cameras, to provide additional visual confirmation of potentially dangerous payloads.

Track multiple targets

Necessary for Airport use, and a result of its staring radar technology, Obsidian can track in excess of 100 targets simultaneously, accurately identifying and tracking which ones are drones vs birds, and labelling them accordingly using artificial intelligence (AI). The system camera is automatically slewed to threats, allowing rapid positive ID in a busy control room.

Advanced warning

Each back-to-back pair of QinetiQ's Obsidian 180˚ 3D radars provides 360˚ coverage 90˚ elevation, and 3.5km range, creating up to a 7km detection 'bubble'. These zones can easily be extended to multiple locations and controlled within the same network, providing a single interface into a distributed system. Interfaces may be replicated in multiple control rooms for situational awareness where it's needed. This provides advanced capability that automatically generates alerts without placing additional demands on operators.

On the move

Obsidian’s new ‘on the move’ capabilities provide a mobile system for deployment to locations where disruption has been reported. In this challenging application of radar technology, Obsidian can be used to detect threats from a static or moving vehicle, making it possible to monitor your perimeters and provide target detection and tracking to enable complete situational awareness.

Military Force Protection

Operational Challenge

Recent events have shown that military personnel and equipment are vulnerable to improvised IEDs carried by drones. Drones (sometimes in swarms) are being increasingly used for low probability of intercept surveillance and reconnaissance, not detectable by conventional sensors.

Detect, Track and ID

Obsidian’s staring radar can detect and track over 100 targets simultaneously, differentiating drones from birds and other airborne items. By using artificial intelligence (AI) to rapidly characterise and assess targets, the system provides early warning of approaching threats, allowing appropriate action to be taken.

Defeat

Obsidian alerts can trigger defensive counter drone technology to eliminate any close threat. Obsidian is fully interoperable with most effector systems on the market and can be tailored to match user requirements.

On the move

Obsidian’s new ‘on the move’ capabilities provide a mobile system for deployment to locations where immediate protection is required. For Military Force protection, the benefits of this are threefold; Convoy Protection, Quick Reaction Force and temporary protection over deployed troops. Obsidian provides target detection and tracking of troops from aerial threats to enable complete situational awareness.

Secure Facilities (CNI)

Operational Challenge

Critical National Infrastructure and Military facilities have become more vulnerable since the proliferation of low-cost drones. Perimeter Security is no longer enough to stop determined individuals from breaching security and providing significant risk to operations and threat to life.

Detect and Track

Obsidian's unparalleled 3D threat-agnostic location accuracy and rapid location updates provide the ultimate in Situational Awareness of multiple simultaneous threats, allowing the appropriate action to be taken whatever the target (drones, paragliders, parachutes etc.). Its high elevation coverage provides the much desired dome of protection over your asset, meaning you don’t need to be concerned about targets flying in over the top of your radar. Furthermore, this 24/7/365 monitoring of the environment is performed completely autonomously, minimising cost of ownership.

Defend

Obsidian alerts provide the accuracy needed to precisely trigger integrated defensive counter drone technologies to eliminate threats. Obsidian’s architecture allows cost-effective integration of a range of Counter Drone effector systems, allowing our customers to choose the approach which best suits their environment, threat, and applicable law.

On the move

Obsidian’s new ‘on the move’ capabilities provide a mobile system for deployment to locations where disruption has been reported. In this challenging application of radar technology, Obsidian can be used to detect threats from a static or moving vehicle, making it possible to monitor your perimeters and provide target detection and tracking to enable complete situational awareness.

VIP, Property and Asset Protection

Privacy

People of status are increasingly vulnerable to invasion of privacy from the ever-present paparazzi and members of the public. The advent of affordable drones has increased this threat, allowing invasion of privacy in areas which would previously have been safe from being overlooked, such as large private estates or yachts. Detecting and mitigating threats before they get too close can defend that privacy.

Detect and Track

Obsidian’s unparalleled 3D threat location accuracy and rapid location updates provide the ultimate in threat detection, using multi-sensor systems able to detect simultaneous threats whether located on a moving land or sea vehicle, a static office or a residential location. Furthermore, our 24/7/365 monitoring of the environment is performed completely autonomously, minimising cost of ownership and ensuring peace of mind.

Defend

Obsidian alerts provide the accuracy needed to evade the prying eyes of drone cameras or activate a counter drone technology. Obsidian’s architecture allows cost-effective integration of a range of Counter Drone effector systems, allowing our customers to choose the approach which best suits their environment, threat, and applicable law.

On the move

Although many VIP Asset Protection applications call for the defence of static targets, Obsidian is also able to operate whilst ‘on the move’. In this challenging application of radar technology, Obsidian can be used to detect threats from a static or moving vehicle, making it possible to monitor a developing aerial threat situation on land or at sea.

Our example Use Cases on these pages demonstrate the varied nature of drone threats and customer requirements.

Our customers deliver a diverse range of businesses, their operational imperatives differ, and the nature of the drone threats that they’re likely to encounter can vary widely – in short, no two customer requirements are identical. As a result, it’s becoming widely acknowledged in the Counter-Drone market that there is no ‘silver-bullet’ solution from a single vendor. Rather, solution providers such as QinetiQ increasingly need to draw from a wider range of matured and commercially available equipment and services in order to provide comprehensive robust solutions for our customers.

QinetiQ are ideally placed to develop highly capable mission-critical solutions for our customers. We deliver research & development, advice/consultancy, solutions and services to our global defence, security and civil customers, are uniquely able to draw upon an extensive knowledge and experience base across the entire Counter-Drone space, covering; open architecture command and control systems, active (radar) and passive (Electronic Warfare) RF systems design, imagery analysis and artificial intelligence, and RF directed energy. Drawing upon our breadth and depth of experience we work with our customers closely to develop customer-led solutions which are fit for purpose, robust, and supported.

FAQs

What's required to give me protection?
A core Obsidian Counter Drone system will give 360 Degrees of protection, 3.5km in all directions, including directly above. The standard package contains 2x 180 Degree Radars, Tracker, PTZ camera (Different options are available) and the Command and Control interface with two screens for the operator. You will need an elevated stable position to mount the radars, with clear line of sight in all directions. For mobile applications we’ll work with you to ensure our solution meets your needs. We typically work with our customers to understand their specific site/platform requirements and are able to cost-effectively tailor and add to the above to meet specific requirements.

Why is the Obsidian Radar good at detecting Drones?
QinetiQ's Obsidian Radar was developed following a comprehensive threat analysis research programme, and has therefore been designed from the ground up with Drone detection as its primary use. This means it’s been optimised for detection and identification of small moving objects in 3D space. Obsidian transmits on a frequency which is especially optimised for detecting the signature created by small motors and rotor blades on drones. This capability does not exclude the ability to set up Obsidian to detect a variety of other targets with different radar cross sections. Use the Contact Us form to the right of this page to talk to us about your specific use case.

Is the range of Obsidian?
In short, no. Obsidian’s range is now 3.5km and system performance can be further extended through integration of additional sensors, including supplementary radars or RF sensing and Direction Finding techniques. Obsidian also provides its 3.5km range in all directions, supporting aerial threat tracking above the altitudes conventional longer-range 2D radar systems offer.

How good is the Obsidian Counter Drone system at classifying targets?
Conventionally, classification of small flying objects at longer distances can be challenging, and can often result in high false alarm rates - alarms from every airborne target over a 20 square km of airspace doesn't typically deliver customer satisfaction. The Obsidian system uses a combination of sensors and advanced techniques (such as the 'micro-Doppler' signature of spinning propeller blades) to detect and classify Drones. The Obsidian Radar as the primary sensor is augmented with and Artificial Intelligence techniques applied to the live video feed provides sufficient target classification. In addition, information from RF sensors can also be overlaid.

Could a target get missed by scanning radar beams?
Obsidian Radar doesn't have a spinning antenna, or electronically scanning beams, it uses a large array (80+) of static antenna beams to create a 'protective bubble' around your location, 360 Degrees around by 90 Degrees vertically. This provides far greater ability to detect and track small objects, prevents drones from flying 'over the radar' (as with 2D single-beam radars), and delivers more continuous radio frequency energy on the threat which allows greater target discrimination than fleeting scanning beams.

What sizes of drones are detectable?
Obsidian has been developed to detect and track both conventional consumer drones which are available on the high street (such as those from DJI) as well as non-conventional, home-made drones. It doesn’t need a library to detect targets, just the physical presence of the target. Detection limits vary with drone type - the general rule is, the larger the drone the further away it will be detected.

Can Obsidian be used over water?
Yes, Obsidian can be used over water. Obsidian is a Doppler radar system which makes measurements by means of detecting Doppler changes when an object moves. Our staring beam technology is comprised of 80+ beams per radar, allowing us to isolate sea clutter in our lower beams only without adversely affecting performance against air targets.

Who monitors the Obsidian system?
Obsidian is an unmanned system which works 24/7/365 and will only warn you of a threat when certain criteria are met, at which point its camera will be automatically trained on and track the target. This allows rapid threat conformation without operator intervention with the system, and appropriate action to be taken immediately. Many competing systems require manual intervention to track threats, raising cost of ownership through the need to man the system.

How big is an Obsidian Radar?
The Obsidian radar is a relatively small device which can easily be mounted on a roof, a large vehicle or a small mast. Its small size means it can be mounted on a building, vehicle or ship with little impact to the aesthetic of the structure.