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 BIG PICTURE

As drones become more affordable, capable and widely available, the need for persistent, intelligent airspace awareness to protect the public grows. By leveraging existing technology, the NetSense solution can help protect people and critical infrastructure across a wide range of environments.

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.

HOW IT WORKS

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.

NEXT STEPS

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. Interested organizations can contact Astris AI, Lockheed Martin's wholly owned subsidiary: https://astrisai.com/request-a-briefing.