#United States #Miami #Lockheed Martin #NVIDIA #Verizon

Lockheed Martin and Partners Unveil Innovative Airspace Protection Technology

In an era shaped by rapid technological advancements, the threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has become increasingly apparent. To address this challenge, Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with renowned partners such as Verizon, NVIDIA, Keysight Technologies, ODC, and Astris AI, recently demonstrated an advanced airspace protection solution during a live event in Miami. This initiative showcased how commercial technologies can provide efficient detection and monitoring of drones, ensuring safety in public and critical areas.

Unveiling the NetSense System

The star of the presentation was the NetSense™ Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service™ system. This innovative technology fuses artificial intelligence (AI) with existing 5G networks, making it possible to identify, track, and alert users about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in real time. As drones become increasingly accessible and affordable, the need for effective measures to ensure public safety is paramount. The NetSense system stands out as a proactive solution, designed to integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructures, spanning schools, hospitals, stadiums, and utility plants.

The demonstration illustrated the capabilities of the system in a high-traffic urban environment, showcasing how it can detect UAS, track their flight paths, and send real-time alerts without altering existing cellular radio deployments.

The Technology Behind NetSense

This airspace awareness solution combines various cutting-edge technologies:

• - AI and RF Signal Analysis: Leveraging NVIDIA's AI Aerial, the NetSense system analyzes radio frequency (RF) disturbances in real-time, contributing to Lockheed Martin's tracking algorithms.
• - Agility of Deployment: The system can be rapidly procured and implemented, which is crucial for urgent security needs, more so than traditional systems.
• - Cost-Effectiveness and Innovation: By tapping into the competitive commercial market, costs are reduced while innovative solutions are fostered.
• - Scalability: Designed to grow from protecting a single site to supporting comprehensive command and control systems for larger operations.
• - Open Architecture: This design allows for continual enhancements, facilitating the integration of existing Lockheed Martin capabilities.

Importance of Airspace Awareness

The growing availability of drones poses a significant risk to public safety and infrastructure. The NetSense solution aims to provide persistent and intelligent airspace monitoring that is essential for protecting people and critical assets across various environments. The successful demonstration of this system highlights its potential in safeguarding urban areas, ensuring city, state, and federal government clients can monitor and respond to aerial threats effectively.

Future Implementation Plans

Looking ahead, the NetSense system will be available as a subscription model, allowing it to integrate with existing security operations within organizations. With pilot deployments anticipated in late 2026 and early 2027, interested clients can engage with Astris AI to request briefings on how to adopt this innovative technology.

In the words of Sarah Hiza, senior vice president at Lockheed Martin, the urgency of evolving airspace awareness technologies is clear: "As drones become more affordable and accessible, airspace awareness technology needs to evolve rapidly to outpace potential threats."

The application of AI in conjunction with existing infrastructure is proving to be a transformative approach, with leaders from Verizon and NVIDIA echoing this sentiment. By turning 5G networks into intelligent sensing platforms, the NetSense system embodies a forward-thinking solution crucial for the future of security in burgeoning urban landscapes.

In summary, as we advance toward an era where drones increasingly populate our airways, systems like NetSense will play a pivotal role in securing our skies and protecting our communities.