- ► Pakistan’s GIDS unveiled the RAAST Drone Detection Radar at PIMEC 2025.
- ► Ku band AESA Pulse Doppler radar designed to detect small UAVs with RCS as low as 0.01 m².
- ► Offers 360 degree azimuth coverage and up to 30 degree electronic elevation.
- ► Optimized for force protection, border security, coastal defense, and battlefield surveillance.
- ► Reflects Pakistan’s push for indigenous counter UAS and radar modernization capabilities.
Pakistan Unveils RAAST Drone Detection Radar At PIMEC 2025
The RAAST Drone Detection Radar was unveiled by Global Industrial & Defense Solutions at Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference 2025, marking a new step in Pakistan’s effort to strengthen its counter unmanned aerial systems architecture.
RAAST is described as an all weather Ku band active electronically scanned array, or AESA, Pulse Doppler radar. It is designed to detect and track small, low radar cross section unmanned aerial vehicles operating in cluttered and complex environments.
The system is positioned as a domestically developed solution aimed at closing gaps in low altitude air surveillance, particularly against commercial off the shelf drones and small tactical UAVs.
Technical Overview And Operational Envelope
According to specifications released at PIMEC 2025, the RAAST Drone Detection Radar provides 360 degree azimuth coverage. It electronically scans up to 30 degrees in elevation with an approximate scan cycle of around two seconds.
The radar is capable of detecting targets with a radar cross section as small as 0.01 square meters at ranges up to 10 kilometers. The minimum detection range is approximately 150 meters.
The use of a Ku band AESA configuration is significant. Ku band frequencies are often selected for high resolution tracking and improved detection of small objects. AESA technology allows rapid beam steering without mechanical movement, increasing reliability and enabling faster revisit rates.
Pulse Doppler processing further enhances the system’s ability to filter out ground clutter and focus on moving aerial targets, a critical feature in urban, coastal, and mountainous terrain.
Addressing The Small Drone Threat
The RAAST Drone Detection Radar enters service discussions at a time when small UAVs are reshaping modern conflict. From the war in Ukraine to Middle East security operations, low cost drones have demonstrated their ability to conduct reconnaissance, precision strikes, and swarm attacks.
The proliferation of small UAVs has challenged traditional air defense systems, which were designed primarily for larger aircraft or missile threats. As noted in multiple assessments by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, small drones present a detection and tracking challenge due to their limited radar signature and low altitude flight profiles.
Pakistan faces similar risks across its borders and coastal approaches. A radar such as RAAST, optimized specifically for low RCS targets, is tailored to this evolving threat environment.
Operational Roles And Deployment Scenarios
GIDS states that the RAAST Drone Detection Radar is optimized for force protection, border security, coastal defense, battlefield surveillance, and counterterrorism missions.
For fixed site protection, the system could be deployed to guard military bases, airfields, critical infrastructure, and naval facilities. Its 360 degree coverage supports perimeter defense without requiring multiple mechanically rotating sensors.
In border and coastal roles, the radar may help close low altitude surveillance gaps. Small drones are increasingly used for cross border reconnaissance and smuggling. A dedicated detection layer enhances early warning and cueing for kinetic or electronic countermeasures.
On the battlefield, integration with command and control networks could enable rapid handoff to short range air defense systems or electronic warfare assets.
Indigenous Development And Strategic Significance
The RAAST Drone Detection Radar reflects Pakistan’s broader drive to expand indigenous defense manufacturing under the umbrella of GIDS. Developing a domestic AESA based counter UAS radar reduces reliance on foreign suppliers and offers export potential to partner states facing similar drone threats.
From a strategic standpoint, layered air defense is no longer limited to high end missile shields. Modern force protection requires dedicated sensors that specialize in small target detection at low altitude.
By investing in a Ku band AESA solution, Pakistan aligns with a global trend. The United States, Israel, and several European nations have fielded similar short range drone detection radars to protect bases and critical infrastructure.
However, effectiveness will depend on integration. A radar alone does not neutralize a drone. It must be linked to electronic warfare systems, directed energy weapons, or short range interceptors. The long term value of RAAST will hinge on how it is incorporated into a broader counter UAS ecosystem.
Market And Regional Context
South Asia remains a region where drone use is expanding rapidly, both for military and non state actors. India and Pakistan have both reported incidents involving small UAVs along contested borders.
In this context, RAAST positions Pakistan to address persistent low altitude surveillance challenges while potentially offering a cost competitive system for export.
PIMEC 2025 provided a platform to showcase domestic maritime and security technologies to regional and international delegations. The unveiling of RAAST at a maritime focused exhibition also underscores its potential coastal defense applications.
