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).