The Zavod Electromash plant in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod has plant developed an advanced stealth robotic system capable of detecting reconnaissance and attack drones, Zavod Electromash spokesman Valery Pyatkin told Sputnik.

The mobile optical-radar, non-emitting complex is due to enter service at the Russian Armed Forces after the wrap-up of the development work which will last until mid-2017 at the earliest, according to Pyatkin.

“The 20-kg system includes the receiving antenna and software-hardware complex to process and display information. The system can be supplemented with optical electronics for reconnaissance purposes,” he said.

He added that aside from tracked vehicles, the remotely operated system can be based on small truck chassis, including a SUV or a minivan. The detection range is over 20 kilometers, with a radar accuracy of about 10 meters.

Pyatkin specifically pointed to the system’s unique characteristics.

“First and foremost, the absence of active radiation makes the system very stealthy, not allowing the enemy to detect and destroy it with anti-radar means; secondly, the system detects enemy attack and reconnaissance drones which observe radio silence mode; also, the system can effectively detect sophisticated enemy stealth drones of various types,” he said.

Pyatkin touted non-emitting radiolocation as a promising trend in the development of modern radar systems on the whole. Non-emitting radar systems use signals from those transmitters which are not related to systems, Pyatkin explained, citing TV and radio broadcasting systems, mobile connection as well as broadcasting, navigation and communications satellites.

Non-emitting radar systems detect an object by comparing and processing the signals, which include a direct signal from another transmitter and the same signal reflected from an object.