HELSINKI — Finnish defence company Patria has signed an agreement to supply its MUSCL passive radar system to an undisclosed European NATO member country.
The contract covers several sensor stations needed to monitor a large area, along with spare parts, training and support services. The package is intended to support rapid operational deployment and further capability development. Patria has not disclosed the contract value or delivery schedule.
Passive Radar for Air Surveillance
Patria MUSCL is a transportable passive radar system designed to detect, track and report aerial targets in real time. It supports air surveillance, early warning and counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) missions.
Instead of transmitting its own radar signals, MUSCL uses existing transmissions in the surrounding electromagnetic environment, including FM radio and DVB-T/DVB-T2 digital television broadcasts. This allows the system to monitor airspace without actively transmitting signals that could reveal its position.
According to Patria, MUSCL provides 360-degree surveillance and can track more than 100 aerial targets simultaneously, with updates approximately once per second.
The company cites detection ranges of under 150 km for fighter aircraft, under 80 km for helicopters and more than 10 km for small NATO Class 1 UAVs, depending on target type and operating conditions.
Flexible Deployment
MUSCL can operate as an individual sensor or as part of a network of multiple stations. The system can be operated locally or remotely and can integrate with command-and-control networks through standard interfaces. Patria also states that it is designed for unattended 24/7 operation once deployed.
Mikko Leino, Executive Vice President of Patria’s Defence and Weapon Systems business area, said the agreement demonstrates the customer's confidence in Patria's passive sensor technology.
“Patria MUSCL delivers a unique combination of covert surveillance, operational flexibility and cost-effective performance,” Leino said.
Patria said demand for passive radar technology is growing across Europe as military forces strengthen air-defence and counter-UAS capabilities.
MUSCL Demonstration in Estonia
Patria will demonstrate MUSCL during the Electronic Warfare Live (EWLive) 2026 event in Estonia from September 15–17.
During the demonstration, MUSCL will operate together with Patria’s CATCHR electronic support measures (ESM) system to provide real-time situational awareness of airspace over Estonia and southern Finland. Patria said neither system will transmit signals of its own during the demonstration.
Patria has more than 30 years of experience in designing, developing and delivering passive radio-frequency sensor systems for intelligence, surveillance and electronic countermeasures.
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