Robin Radar Systems has announced that its conflict-proven IRIS drone-detection radar will be deployed by components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alongside state and local agencies, as part of counter-UAS operations for the FIFA World Cup in North America later this year. The radars will be responsible for protecting high-visibility events and critical infrastructure following additional support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

The deployment reflects growing recognition across U.S. homeland security agencies that drone threats at large-scale public events require persistent, reliable airspace awareness, delivered through scalable, easy-to-operate sensing systems.

The IRIS is a plug-and-play radar solution and can be set up in under 15 minutes by a single operator without technical support and operates 24/7 seamlessly with minimal human input. Unlike more complex military systems that require teams of engineers to deploy and operate, the IRIS radar integrates seamlessly into broader counter-UAS architectures alongside cameras, acoustic sensors, passive detection systems and command-and-control platforms.

The FIFA World Cup deployment builds on Robin Radar’s role in securing major international events, including the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, where IRIS was integrated into a multi-sensor security framework protecting athletes and spectators.

Robin Radar’s IRIS provides 360-degree situational awareness, detecting, tracking, and classifying airborne objects, including drones deliberately designed to evade traditional detection methods. With an instrumented range of up to 12 kilometres, IRIS offers early warning, giving authorities the time and space required to assess threats, coordinate responses, and act decisively.

IRIS is a TRL 9 capability, meaning it has been used extensively in active conflict environments, providing operational validation in high-pressure settings. That experience has informed product refinement and accelerated scaling, applying conflict-proven technology to the domestic setting.

Robin Radar has seen exponential growth across North America in 2025, driven by demand from DHS components and Canadian federal agencies, as major political and sporting events continue to require increased airspace security. The company has also partnered with multiple prime integrators under forthcoming DHS Counter-UAS procurement frameworks, reinforcing its position as a trusted radar supplier within the wider CUAS ecosystem.

Kristian Brost, General Manager, Robin Radar North America, said: “DHS components and state authorities are looking for solutions that work immediately, that scale, and that can be operated by non-technical teams. IRIS delivers exactly that. It’s a plug-and-play radar that provides persistent airspace awareness within minutes of arrival. At an event the size of the World Cup, clarity and early warnings are critical.”

Marcel Verdonk, Chief Commercial Officer at Robin Radar Systems, said: “Large-scale public events require trusted, off-the-shelf security technology that can be delivered at pace. We have demonstrated that we can supply in quantity, from supporting European ministries of defence to delivering at scale in North America. IRIS provides reliable military-grade detection with rapid deployment, and that reassurance matters when agencies are protecting millions of people.”