ST-68U „Tin Shield” vs. Low-Altitude Drone Threat
ST-68U „Tin Shield” vs. Low-Altitude Drone Threat Legacy 3D Air Defense Radar in the Modern Small-UAS Battlespace Executive Assessment The ST-68U (“Tin Shield”) remains a significant legacy 3D surveillance radar, designed to detect low-altitude aircraft under severe clutter and electronic interference conditions. Its capabilities include phased array monopulse detection, automatic target recognition for up to 128 targets, and guidance for 32 continuous tracks. Against modern small drones (low-RCS, low-altitude UAVs), the ST-68U is conditionally effective. It can detect medium-sized UAVs under favorable terrain and clutter conditions, but cannot provide consistent, actionable tracking for a swarm or multiple low-altitude drones. Its operational value is highest when integrated into a layered air-defense network combining EO/IR, RF sensors, and short-range radar systems designed for UAS detection. Bottom line: Useful for broad surveillance and cueing, insufficient as a standalone counter...