Lockheed Martin and Partners Demonstrate 5G-Based Drone Tracking

A collaboration between Lockheed Martin, Verizon, NVIDIA, Keysight Technologies, ODC, and Astris AI has successfully tested a new airspace awareness system in Miami. The system, titled NetSense Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service, utilizes existing 5G infrastructure to detect and monitor unmanned aircraft systems in real time. This breakthrough allows for monitoring capabilities without the need for additional cellular radio hardware or major network modifications.

The technology combines 5G connectivity with advanced artificial intelligence to identify drones operating in urban environments. This initiative seeks to address growing concerns regarding unauthorized drone flights over critical infrastructure and public areas. By leveraging current 5G networks, the project aims to lower the deployment costs for cities and security agencies looking to secure their airspace against unauthorized aircraft activity.

Following the successful demonstration, the team plans to initiate pilot deployments in late 2026 to early 2027. Full commercial availability is targeted for 2027. This development serves as a significant step forward in integrating drone traffic management into standard urban connectivity infrastructure. The success of this model could influence similar security frameworks in major Indian cities as they continue to expand their own high-speed 5G network rollouts.