Spotter Global has unveiled the GAX500‑3D radar combining Compact Holographic 3D technology, rapid 18 Hz volumetric scanning, low-power operation, and modular deployment with NetworkedIO software.
Orem, Utah — March 16, 2026
When low-flying drones first appeared on modern battlefields, U.S. Special Forces faced a critical problem: their optical and thermal cameras offered only a narrow view of the terrain, leaving large areas unmonitored. Traditional ground surveillance radar existed, but weighed more than 100 pounds, required generators, and was impractical for mobile troops.
Enter Logan Harris. Nearly two decades ago, Harris began working on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for drones, scanning terrain below and generating detailed imagery. Recognizing a gap in military capabilities, he founded Spotter Global in 2009 to develop compact, mobile, and low-power surveillance radar, designed to give troops and security operators a full view of the battlefield, or urban environment.
Today, Spotter Global unveiled the GAX500‑3D, built on its Compact Holographic 3D (CH3D) radar technology, offering a new standard in drone detection and threat mitigation for both military and civilian applications.
The Modern Drone Threat
Small commercial drones, tethered “suicide” drones, and coordinated swarms have become a serious concern for military installations, urban areas, and critical infrastructure. These threats fly low, move fast, and require precise interception to neutralize.
“Optics are very difficult to get enough pixels on target to see a drone at any meaningful range,” Harris explained in an interview with TechBuzz. “So now you’re down to acoustics and radar. Most radar systems are large and expensive, and they take time to scan. That’s a problem when drones are fast, swarming, and potentially armed.”
The GAX500‑3D tracks drones ranging from sub-kilogram hobbyist models to larger 3 kg craft, detecting the latter up to 500 meters. Its key advantage lies not just in range but in speed, precision, and volumetric awareness, essential for detecting swarms in real time.
Compact, Fast, and Portable
Traditional surveillance radar is heavy and power-hungry. Harris stated, “The military’s radar could weigh over 100 pounds, and you’re not jumping out of a plane with 100 pounds on your back plus a generator. Soldiers needed something smaller, lighter, and mobile.”
The GAX500‑3D weighs under 4 kg, measures 16 × 9 × 4.25 inches, and consumes less than 35 watts. It can be powered by a battery pack, a vehicle, or active Power over Ethernet. Despite its size, it provides a full-volume update 18 times per second, capturing new positional data every 56 milliseconds, fast enough to track drones moving at over 200 kph, including coordinated swarms.
“The advantage is speed and precision,” Harris noted. “If you detect something but don’t know exactly where it is, what can you do about it? That precision is essential, especially against swarms.”
Holographic Radar vs. Conventional Systems
Spotter Global’s CH3D radar uses a holographic 3D approach rather than conventional Electronically Scanned Arrays (ESA). Harris explained:
“Phased-array radars are like flashlights, illuminating only a small part of the sky before moving to the next. Our holographic 3D radar is a floodlight, scanning the entire volume and integrating reflections from all targets every 56 milliseconds.”
The GAX500‑3D spends 100% of its time on target, collecting location data for up to 50 targets simultaneously. Its low radiated energy (3.2 W EIRP) enables operation with minimal visual and RF signatures, a crucial consideration for military and sensitive civilian applications.
Technical highlights:
Command & Control with NetworkedIO
A critical differentiator is Spotter Global’s NetworkedIO (NIO) software, which provides real-time visualization and multi-sensor fusion. NIO integrates radar data with Radar AI and Video AI, reducing false alerts, prioritizing threats, and allowing customized alert zones.
“By using CH3D™ technology to provide 100% volumetric coverage 18 times every second, the GAX500-3D ensures that security managers aren’t just reacting to threats, but maintaining total, uninterrupted ‘stare’ capability over critical assets,” said Harris.
NIO enables operators to rapidly interpret data from multiple sensors, combining 3D radar tracks with visual feeds for a full situational awareness picture. This ecosystem is especially useful for urban environments, VIP protection, and infrastructure defense.
Real-World Applications
The GAX500‑3D is built for both military and civilian missions:
The system’s low weight, low power, and modular design allow rapid integration onto Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISV), Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), FMTV, HEMTT, or standard NATO mounts. Four panels provide full 360° coverage, making it a flexible solution for complex tactical or civilian environments.
Competitive Advantage
Compared with systems like Echoguard, MESA, Fortem R40, and Magos AR-300, Spotter Global emphasizes speed, low power, and modular deployment, rather than raw range.
| System | CH3D / GAX500‑3D | Echoguard | MESA | Fortem R40 | Magos AR-300 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Compact Holographic 3D | Metamaterials ESA | Phased ESA | Active ESA | Digital Beamforming |
| Cost | <$50K | <$50K | <$50K | <$100K | <$50K |
| Power (W) | 3.2 | 278 | 80 | 294 | 12.6 |
| Range (3 kg drone) | 500 m | 700 m | 750 m? | 750 m? | 500 m |
| Full FOV Scan Rate | 18 Hz | 0.55 Hz | ~1 Hz | ~1 Hz | 7 Hz |
| Weight | <4 kg | 1.25 kg | ~2 kg | 7 kg | 4.2 kg |
| FOV | 90° × 90° | 80° × 120° | 120° × 120° | 90° × 130° | 120° × 120° |
| Power Consumption | <35 W | 50 W | 25 W | 40 W | 35 W |
While its detection range is comparable, the GAX500‑3D’s refresh rate and low energy use give it a decisive edge against fast-moving drone swarms. Spotter Global also highlights price parity with legacy systems while offering higher accuracy and lower operational power.
Innovation Through Experience
Spotter Global’s journey began with Harris’s early SAR research and battlefield experience with U.S. Special Forces.
“If we could scan an area with a couple-pound drone, why not provide troops with wide-area surveillance they could carry on foot? That was the problem we set out to solve, and the CH3D radar is the latest evolution of that vision,” recalled Harris.
DARPA’s support helped scale these designs, turning a tactical battlefield solution into a deployable system suitable for both military and critical infrastructure defense. The GAX500‑3D integrates low-latency volumetric scanning, advanced C2 software, and modular deployment to meet the needs of modern operators.
Looking Ahead
As drone threats continue to evolve—smaller, faster, and increasingly deployed in swarms—defensive technology must keep pace. The GAX500‑3D represents a new paradigm: compact, fast, and precise systems capable of real-time monitoring and mitigation across military and civilian domains.
“When drones are swarming, when every second counts, speed and precision matter most,” Harris said.
With its combination of low-power operation, modular deployment, volumetric scanning, and advanced command and control, the GAX500‑3D is designed to protect soldiers, critical infrastructure, VIPs, and public spaces from modern aerial threats.
Learn more at spotterglobal.com.