Lockheed Martin Uses 5G Networks to Detect and Track Drones Without New Infrastructure

Existing 5G networks can now detect and track drones in real time

The US is testing a new way to spot drones without building a separate detection network. A new system uses existing 5G infrastructure to detect, track, and monitor unmanned aircraft. Lockheed Martin and its partners demonstrated the technology near Miami in July. The test showed how commercial wireless infrastructure could support drone detection across busy American environments. The system, called NetSense Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service, analyzes radio-frequency disturbances around cellular networks. It can then identify drone activity and maintain a track as the aircraft moves. The approach could give airports, hospitals, power plants, stadiums and government facilities another layer of airspace protection. It could also help agencies monitor drone activity around sensitive locations. NetSense combines several commercial technologies to turn cellular signals into useful sensing data. Verizon provided the 5G network spectrum used during the demonstration. ODC supplied AI-native radio access network software for the test. NVIDIA's AI Aerial platform analyzed radio-frequency signals in real time. Keysight Technologies also contributed its RF simulation technology. Lockheed Martin's systems then processed the resulting data to identify and track the drone. NVIDIA executive Ronnie Vasishta said the technology brings AI-powered sensing closer to the network edge. That allows RF disturbances to receive rapid analysis and supports faster alerts. The system does not require changes to existing cellular radio deployments. That detail could make large-scale deployment easier for infrastructure operators. Engineers can also expand the system as new technologies emerge. Its open architecture allows additional sensors and interceptors to connect with existing systems. During the Miami demonstration, NetSense detected a drone and alerted operators to its presence. The system then maintained track custody as the aircraft continued its flight. That capability matters as drones become cheaper and easier to acquire. A growing number of commercial and consumer drones now operate near populated areas. Traditional counter-drone systems can require dedicated sensors and specialized hardware. NetSense takes a different engineering route by using infrastructure already deployed across cities. Lockheed Martin says its approach can also complement future 6G sensing networks. The system currently works with 5G spectrum while providing a path toward broader cellular integration. Verizon's Anil Guntupali said existing 5G signals can provide useful sensing data when paired with intelligent software. That concept could turn communications networks into security tools without replacing their core infrastructure. The company plans to offer NetSense through a subscription model. The service will connect with customers' existing security operations rather than require an entirely separate command structure. Pilot deployments are planned for the second half of 2026 and early 2027. Lockheed Martin expects broader commercial availability in 2027. Initial customers will include organizations with urgent airspace security requirements. Critical infrastructure operators could become major users as drone activity increases around sensitive sites. The technology could eventually give US cities another tool for monitoring low-altitude airspace. More importantly, it shows how ordinary communications infrastructure could gain a second role. A cellular network built to connect phones could also help security teams understand what is flying nearby. That shift could make drone awareness more scalable without rebuilding America's existing wireless infrastructure.

Lockheed Martin Demonstrates NetSense Airspace Awareness-As-A-Service System For UAS Detection

Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with Verizon, NVIDIA, Keysight Technologies, ODC and Astris AI, recently showcased how commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies can make detecting and tracking unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) more accessible, faster to deploy, and easier to scale for public and critical infrastructure protection. In a July demonstration in the Miami area, the NetSense Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service system demonstrated an AI-enabled system capable of identifying, tracking and monitoring UAS utilizing existing 5G networks. The technology has broad commercial applications across critical infrastructure, large-scale events at stadiums, utilities like power plants, and the everyday places people depend on, like schools, hospitals and airports. City, state and federal government customers can also gain proactive monitoring and alerts from the NetSense solution. The successful live demonstration took place in a critical, high-traffic, urban area important for American protection, showcasing NetSense's components, capabilities, and UAS detection and alert systems in real-time. Leveraging an existing Verizon 5G network spectrum, ODC's AI-native Radio Access Network (RAN) software, NVIDIA's AI Aerial platform, and Keysight's advanced radio frequency (RF) simulation platform, NetSense detected and alerted the team to the presence of drones and maintained track custody through the flight. The NetSense solution combines Lockheed Martin's warning and tracking systems, which work together using AI to read RF disturbances, predict and track a UAS's flight path and automatically send real-time alerts. The NetSense solution revolutionizes airspace awareness through: AI-native sensing: Uses NVIDIA AI Aerial to analyze RF signal disturbances in real time and feed them to Lockheed Martin's NetSense algorithms. Speed and agility: Can be procured and deployed faster than traditional or custom-built systems leveraging COTS. Innovation and cost-effectiveness: The competitive commercial market can drive down costs and foster innovation. Integration potential: Open architecture commercial systems let new interceptors and technologies be added to existing platforms without the need for entirely new hardware. Scalability: The solution can grow from protecting a single critical site to supporting a mobile command and control system for larger operations. Open architecture design: Makes continuous enhancements of the offering possible, including deployment of existing Lockheed Martin capabilities for improved data interpretation and target classification. The demonstration proved the NetSense system can sense UAS without changing existing cellular radio deployments. This approach means at-scale, cost-effective sensing is available without recapitalization of cellular infrastructure, ahead of the timeline for 6G Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). The NetSense system and its algorithms are also complementary to 6G ISAC and can enhance those systems when they are available. The NetSense system currently leverages Verizon's 5G network spectrum, with a roadmap toward broader deployment across 5G and future 6G networks. The NetSense system will be delivered as a subscription that interfaces with customer's existing security operations. Pilot deployments are planned for the second half of 2026 and early 2027, with commercial general availability planned for 2027. Early deployments will be limited to select customers that urgently need the capability.