NETLINE showcases SonicScan at Eurosatory 2026 for Counter-UAS

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The rapid spread of drones across today’s battlefields is still driving the creation of new technologies to detect and defeat these threats. Against that backdrop, the Israeli company NETLINE Communications Technologies used its presence at Eurosatory 2026 to present its Counter-UAS portfolio, with particular emphasis on SonicScan-a passive acoustic detection system built to spot drones even in demanding environments.

NETLINE Communications Technologies at Eurosatory 2026

In a conversation with Military Zone, company representatives said SonicScan was developed to address several weaknesses found in traditional radar-based detection, especially when dealing with very small drones, platforms with a low radar signature, or situations where electromagnetic emissions could expose friendly positions.

SonicScan (NETLINE) and passive Counter-UAS acoustic detection

“We call it an acoustic radar because it gives us the direction of the threat without emitting any signal”, a NETLINE representative explained. Rather than behaving like a conventional radar that radiates electromagnetic energy, the system relies on a set of acoustic sensors and artificial-intelligence-based algorithms to recognise and classify aerial threats using their sound signature.

As the company described it, SonicScan incorporates an array of 128 microphones that can pick up the acoustic characteristics of different categories of unmanned aircraft. The data gathered is then analysed by AI algorithms that separate drones from other background noises while also indicating the direction from which they are approaching.

NETLINE stressed that the key benefit lies in the system’s passive nature. “Radar has its own limitations. It is an active system and, in combat, if it transmits, the enemy can locate you. With an acoustic sensor you are completely passive”, they said.

Operating without revealing your position in a sensor-saturated environment

The company argued that this advantage is becoming increasingly important as modern conflicts shift towards environments crowded with sensors and electronic surveillance. In that context, they noted growing demand for technologies that maintain situational awareness without giving away friendly locations through electromagnetic emissions.

Designed to tackle the threats seen in Ukraine

One of the standout points in the presentation was SonicScan’s ability to detect threats that have become prominent in the war in Ukraine-particularly FPV drones used for reconnaissance and attack. According to NETLINE, the system can detect small FPV drones at ranges beyond 1 km, delivering valuable warning time so defensive measures can be taken. “We detect small FPV drones at more than 1 km away”, the company representative said.

NETLINE also stated that the system performs well against fibre-optic-guided drones, a threat that has attracted attention in recent years because it is largely immune to traditional electronic jamming. The company explained that these drones can produce an even more noticeable acoustic signature due to the additional weight of the fibre-optic spool. “We detect fibre-optic-guided drones at an even greater distance because they also have to carry the cable and their motors work harder”, they added.

In NETLINE’s view, these capabilities make SonicScan particularly valuable as a complement to other surveillance tools, adding another detection layer for threats that can be difficult to identify with conventional sensors.

An integrated counter-drone defence architecture

Alongside SonicScan, NETLINE showcased additional solutions at Eurosatory aimed at building a fully integrated counter-drone defence architecture. These included:

• Duo-Guard Manpack and Duo-Guard Vehicular, designed to neutralise threats through electronic warfare
• The portable C-Block Micro system
• The GeoDome command-and-control platform

The company said the current direction is to bring sensors, effectors and electromagnetic-spectrum management tools together within a single operational architecture. “Everything is being combined into a single system. The aim is to integrate detection, protection, situational awareness and connectivity”, they explained. This approach reflects the increasing complexity of the operating environment, where countering drones demands earlier detection, identification, tracking and neutralisation in ever shorter timeframes.

Within this broader picture, NETLINE expects passive solutions to keep gaining momentum in the Counter-UAS market. “There is growing interest in passive systems”, company representatives concluded, pointing to a trend shaped both by lessons from recent conflicts and by the need to operate in increasingly contested electromagnetic conditions.