U.S. Raid Hunter 50mm Air Defense System Gains Longer-Range Radar to Counter Mass Drone Attacks.

Northrop Grumman is integrating SRC's new Gryphon R1810 radar into its Raid Hunter air defense system to improve protection against coordinated drone attacks. Combining longer-range detection with precision fire control and guided 50mm ammunition, the system is designed to intercept multiple aerial threats while reducing reliance on costly surface-to-air missiles for defending U.S. military bases, airfields, and critical infrastructure.

Northrop Grumman's Raid Hunter 50mm gun-based air defense system, designed to intercept drones, cruise missiles, and coordinated aerial attacks, is being equipped with the new Gryphon R1810 radar for longer-range detection and precision fire control (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)

This development addresses the difficulties faced by air defense systems confronting growing numbers of small drones. Unlike conventional surveillance radars, which primarily identify approaching aircraft, the R1810 is designed to track both incoming targets and the projectiles fired to intercept them. This capability allows the system to monitor engagements as they unfold and improve firing accuracy, particularly when several aircraft approach a defended position within a short period.

According to a statement released by SRC on October 8, 2026, the Gryphon R1810 was developed specifically to meet Northrop Grumman's requirements for the Raid Hunter program. It builds on an earlier collaboration between the two companies involving the M-ACE system, which uses the Gryphon R1410 radar. Engineers initially considered using the R1540, but range and accuracy requirements led to the development of a new model. SRC reports that it progressed from initial design to a functional prototype in just six months.

The new radar retains the main electronic components and antenna modules of the Gryphon R1540, but each panel incorporates eight antenna subarrays instead of four. This larger antenna aperture increases detection performance and tracking accuracy while retaining an electronic architecture already used in other systems within the Gryphon family.

Related News: Northrop Grumman Advances Raid Hunter 50mm Gun-Based Air Defense in Projectile Flight Test

SRC specifies a maximum detection range of 21.6 kilometers against Group 1 unmanned aircraft systems and 49.4 kilometers against Group 3 systems. By comparison, the R1540 could detect these categories at 12.7 and 30.2 kilometers, respectively. These ranges provide additional time to identify approaching threats, establish their trajectories, and prepare an interception. However, they represent the radar's detection distances rather than the effective engagement range of Raid Hunter's cannon.

The R1810 can operate in a single-panel configuration paired with a weapon turret, allowing simultaneous tracking of an aerial target and the ammunition fired against it. A four-panel configuration also provides 360-degree surveillance coverage. These arrangements support different requirements, ranging from precision fire control to continuous airspace monitoring around sensitive installations.

Raid Hunter combines Northrop Grumman's Bushmaster Chain Gun automatic cannon technology with guided 50mm ammunition and a networked command-and-control architecture. The projectiles are designed to make multiple trajectory corrections during flight, improving their ability to intercept moving aerial targets. Northrop Grumman also plans several installation configurations, including palletized arrangements and potential future integration onto vehicles.

Combining the R1810 with Raid Hunter is particularly relevant to protecting air bases exposed to coordinated attacks. Multiple drones may approach simultaneously from different directions, requiring operators to identify priority targets and rapidly allocate fire. Earlier detection supports this process, while projectile tracking helps maintain accurate fire control during successive engagements. This capability is intended to address saturation tactics that seek to overwhelm air defenses by presenting more targets than they can engage within a limited period.

The use of cannon-fired guided ammunition also addresses an economic constraint. Employing surface-to-air missiles against large numbers of relatively inexpensive drones can quickly place pressure on ammunition inventories and defense budgets. Raid Hunter therefore offers a complementary option to missile-based air defense systems by providing close-range protection against certain aerial threats. This division of responsibilities could allow longer-range interceptors to be reserved for targets requiring their specific capabilities.

The development of this system comes against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran since February 2026. Iranian drone and missile attacks against American installations in the Middle East have highlighted the vulnerability of military bases to repeated strikes. More recently, the withdrawal of U.S. B-1B bombers from Britain's RAF Fairford air base, following intelligence concerning a possible Iranian threat, has also drawn attention to the importance of protecting aircraft on the ground. For Washington and its allies, developing systems such as Raid Hunter addresses a specific requirement: intercepting large numbers of aerial threats at a lower cost while preserving missile interceptors for more demanding engagements.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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