Leonardo DRS Starts Production of 360-Degree Radar
The cxMHR C-Band radar uses four active electronically scanned array panels to provide continuous hemispheric air-defense coverage.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Robotics
Leonardo DRS has begun initial production of the cxMHR, a C-Band Extended Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar designed to detect and track airborne threats. The system uses four AESA panels to provide continuous 360-degree coverage.
Why it matters
The radar is designed to detect unmanned aircraft, loitering munitions, cruise missiles, rockets and tactical ballistic missiles, addressing air-defense needs against a range of aerial threats. Its containerized, modular design allows it to be moved and deployed by land, sea or air.
The cxMHR's four AESA panels, which electronically steer beams rather than physically rotating an antenna, detect unmanned aircraft and loitering munitions beyond 90 kilometers and larger transport aircraft beyond 330 kilometers. Production quantities and customer orders have not been disclosed.
The players
Leonardo DRS
Leonardo DRS is the U.S.-based defense technology subsidiary of Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo, known for radar, electronic warfare and naval systems.
The details
The system integrates its four radar panels, identification friend-or-foe equipment, command-and-control components and supporting hardware into a standard ISO container. AI-enabled tracking and classification software processes incoming radar information to distinguish between aerial threats, and the modular open architecture is designed to support flexible integration.
Timeline
Production of the cxMHR radar has begun, with the article published on November 7, 2026.
Roadmap
The cxMHR applies active electronically scanned array technology, which steers radar beams electronically instead of mechanically rotating an antenna, to a continuous 360-degree air-defense system. Its containerized, modular design reflects a broader shift toward deployable radars that can counter drones, loitering munitions and missiles.
Air-defense radars like the cxMHR primarily affect government and military buyers rather than everyday users. For the public, the system's relevance lies in how it may be deployed to protect infrastructure and populations from drone and missile threats.
The takeaway
Advances in electronically scanned radar are making compact, deployable air-defense systems more capable against low-cost drones and loitering munitions. Readers should watch for disclosed customer orders and deployment decisions, which will show how quickly these systems reach operational use.
Further reading
For related developments in autonomous and sensing systems, explore Robotics coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IHLS.
