AviationNews – Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with major technology partners including Verizon and NVIDIA, has successfully demonstrated a new artificial intelligence-powered system designed to detect and track unmanned aircraft using existing 5G networks. This innovative solution promises to enhance public safety and protect critical infrastructure by making airspace monitoring more accessible and scalable.
The live demonstration, conducted in July in the Miami area, showcased the NetSense™ Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service™ system. Developed by Lockheed Martin alongside Verizon, NVIDIA, Keysight Technologies, ODC, and Astris AI, the platform utilizes commercial off-the-shelf technologies to identify drone threats. By avoiding the need for custom-built hardware or waiting for future 6G infrastructure, the collaboration effectively addresses the growing security challenges posed by increasingly affordable and capable commercial drones in urban environments.
The NetSense system operates by transforming standard 5G cellular networks into an intelligent sensing grid. It uses NVIDIA’s AI Aerial platform and ODC’s AI-native Radio Access Network software to analyze radio frequency disturbances caused by drones navigating through the cellular field. Lockheed Martin’s proprietary algorithms then interpret these signal variations in real-time, predicting the aircraft’s flight path and automatically triggering alerts without compromising the existing telecommunications infrastructure. Keysight’s advanced simulation tools further ensured the system’s optimal deployment and accuracy during the tests.
“As drones become more affordable and accessible, airspace awareness technology needs to evolve rapidly to outpace potential threats. That’s why we developed the NetSense solution,” stated Sarah Hiza, Senior Vice President of Technology and Strategic Innovation at Lockheed Martin. “By working within the established 5G network spectrum, we’re able to collaborate with the commercial technology industry and deploy a solution that’s ready at the time of need”.
Looking ahead, the NetSense platform will be offered as a subscription-based service seamlessly integrating with customers’ existing security operations. Pilot deployments for critical infrastructure and high-priority governmental users are scheduled for the latter half of 2026, paving the way for broad commercial availability by 2027. As the technology scales, it holds the potential to become a standard safety measure for stadiums, airports, power plants, and public events nationwide.
This successful demonstration marks a significant milestone in airspace security by ingeniously repurposing everyday mobile networks into a protective sensor fabric. With the rapid proliferation of unmanned aerial systems, leveraging commercial 5G and artificial intelligence offers a swift and cost-effective defense mechanism. The NetSense system ultimately redefines how communities and critical facilities can maintain safe and monitored skies in an increasingly complex aerial landscape.
