DRADIS (Direction, RAnge, and DIStance) is a detection, identification and tracking system, somewhat similar to radar, used aboard colonial warships. Much like real world radar, there are also stationary DRADIS stations. The Cylons were able to jury-rig the DRADIS assembly from a Heavy Raider into a stationary DRADIS tracking array. ("Fragged")
This is an unfortunate acronym, since "range" and "distance" are redundant with each other.
Notes[edit]
The "Direction, RAnge, and DIStance" breakdown of the acronym "DRADIS" was listed in an early manuscript (PDF) of the first half of the Mini-Series. Since some major elements of this script were changed (such as Kobol being the sole home of the Colonies, and not separate worlds) in comparison to the completed teleplay, canonical use of this breakdown should be taken with some skepticism.