Air Defence Systems Gain Passive RF Threat Sensing
The Silvus RFeye sensors detect aircraft by their emissions without transmitting, an integration announced but not yet fielded.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Cybersecurity
Rheinmetall Air Defence AG has entered into an agreement with Silvus Technologies, a Motorola Solutions company, to integrate Silvus passive radio frequency sensors into Rheinmetall's ground-based air defence systems. The agreement is announced, not yet shipped; no delivery or availability timeline was reported.
Why it matters
Airspace is getting more crowded as unmanned aircraft and harder-to-detect aerial technologies proliferate, and traditional detection methods alone can struggle against new threats in complex conditions. Adding a passive sensing layer reflects a push to supplement radar with systems that detect without transmitting.
The announcement reports no measured detection range, accuracy, or benchmark for the Silvus RFeye sensors within the Skynex or Skymaster systems. What has been demonstrated publicly is the integration concept, not field performance.
The players
Rheinmetall Air Defence AG
Air defence subsidiary of Rheinmetall, whose Skynex Air Defence System and Skymaster command and control platform are the integration targets.
Silvus Technologies
Los Angeles-based radio frequency company owned by Motorola Solutions, whose StreamCaster MANET radios serve defence and public safety agencies.
Motorola Solutions
Parent company of Silvus Technologies, a communications and public safety technology provider.
The details
Silvus RFeye sensors use radio frequency (RF) sensing, meaning they listen to the electromagnetic spectrum to pick up signals emitted by aircraft. Because they operate passively, they do not transmit their own signals, which keeps their positions from being revealed. Within Rheinmetall's Skymaster command and control platform, the sensors would supplement radar coverage, adding a second detection channel that works differently from radar.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Article reporting the Rheinmetall and Silvus agreement was published.
The Tech Race
The partnership positions passive RF sensing as a complement to radar in ground-based air defence, a counter-drone and airspace-awareness niche in which multiple defence technology firms are competing. The source does not name specific rival programs, so the competitive comparison is limited to the approach itself.
The agreement is announced, and the source gives no timeline for when integrated Skynex or Skymaster systems with Silvus sensors would be fielded or available to customers. Its practical reach is limited to defence operators and procurement programs rather than consumers.
The takeaway
Passive RF sensing is being positioned as a way to detect airborne threats without revealing sensor locations, which may matter as airspace grows more contested. Watch for a named delivery contract or a fielded demonstration of the integrated Skymaster system to confirm whether the approach moves from announcement to deployment.
Further reading
Explore more on Cybersecurity to see how sensing and defence technologies connect to broader digital threat protection.
