Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Matt Thurber

Radar manufacturer Echodyne is showcasing its metamaterial electronically scanning array (MESA) radar systems at the Singapore Airshow, highlighting their compact, low-power form factor and ability to detect and respond to airborne threats.
MESA radars are “well-suited for counter-UAS, perimeter defense, mobile force protection, and airspace monitoring applications,” according to Echodyne. The design employs “common materials arranged in a special way to precisely steer radar energy from a much denser array without phase shifters, moving parts, or maintenance of any kind.” Both airborne and ground-based systems are available. They communicate via standard TCP/IP-over-gigabit Ethernet and offer a variety of rich-data output options.
The EchoFlight 4D airborne radar weighs 817 grams (1.8 pounds) and consumes 45 watts of power. Its K-band frequency range is from 24.25 to 24.65 GHz, and it offers a field of view of 120 deg azimuth and 80 deg elevation. EchoFlight can detect smaller drones, such as a Phantom 4, at up to 750 meters (2,460 feet) and a light airplane, such as a Cessna, at 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).
Two versions of the EchoGuard MESA radar are available. The EchoGuard 4D short-range surveillance radar is designed for drone detection but offers a greater range than the EchoFlight system, and it can detect vehicles at 3.5 kilometers. The EchoGuard CR is optimized for close-in detection, with a vehicle detection range of up to 900 meters, or 225 meters for small drones.
At the Singapore Airshow, Echodyne is showcasing the EchoShield and EchoGuard radars. The EchoShield system is in a four-up configuration that highlights Echodyne’s rapid-deployment kit.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of the MESA radars, Echodyne has conducted a series of UAS detection tests in both controlled and field environments. Small drones were detected and tracked in various flight profiles and conditions, “confirming the radar’s ability to maintain reliable tracks.”
In addition, Echodyne has publicly demonstrated its radars in counter-UAS environments at the U.S. Army’s Maneuver and Fires Integration Exercise at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the Red Sands 2025 integrated counter-UAS exercise in Saudi Arabia. “These events helped confirm the radar’s ability to produce high-fidelity track data in complex, operationally realistic conditions and support layered defense interoperability,” according to Echodyne.
“Asia-Pacific is an important region for Echodyne and represents a strong area of growth opportunity,” the company said. “We’re seeing meaningful demand across defense, critical infrastructure, and airspace security use cases, and we’ve built a solid base of technology and channel partners to support it. Echodyne is committed to supporting customers in the region with both product capability and local engagement.”

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MESA radars are “well-suited for counter-UAS, perimeter defense, mobile force protection, and airspace monitoring applications,” according to Echodyne.

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