Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) has successfully demonstrated a new drones detection system that leverages existing commercial 5G cellular networks and artificial intelligence to track unauthorized Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in low-altitude airspace.

Announced in a press release on August 12, 2026, the NetSense Airspace Awareness-as-a-Service system is designed to eliminate the need for expensive, custom-built radar installations. By analyzing radio frequency (RF) disturbances on established networks, the platform offers a scalable security solution for airports, stadiums, and critical infrastructure.

Commercial partnerships and technology integration

The system relies on a coalition of commercial technology providers. Lockheed Martin developed the platform in collaboration with Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), Keysight Technologies Inc. (KEYS), ODC, and Astris AI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin.

Rather than deploying active Radar-Systems, the NetSense system operates passively. It utilizes the NVIDIA AI Aerial platform and ODC AI-native Radio Access Network (RAN) software to monitor RF signal disturbances across Verizon’s cellular network. When a UAS enters the monitored airspace, the system detects the disruption and predicts the aircraft’s flight path in real time.

“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,” said Sarah Hiza, Senior Vice President of Technology and Strategic Innovation at Lockheed Martin.

Deployment timeline and subscription model

Lockheed Martin initially introduced the NetSense prototype in March 2026. The company and its partners subsequently conducted a successful live demonstration of the system in a high-traffic urban environment in the Miami, Florida area in July 2026.

The manufacturers plans to initiate pilot deployments for select customers between the second half of 2026 and early 2027. General commercial availability is targeted for 2027. The system will be offered as a subscription service, utilizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies to integrate directly into customers’ existing security operations.

Hiza noted the necessity of rapid development cycles for counter-drone technology to match the pace of the commercial market.

“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.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the shift toward passive, network-based UAS detection as a critical development for airport operators. The proliferation of capable commercial drones has increased the risk of unauthorized incursions into restricted airspace, which frequently disrupt commercial flight operations and require runway closures. Traditional counter-UAS systems require significant capital expenditure and complex regulatory approvals for active radar emissions. By leveraging existing 5G infrastructure and COTS hardware, the NetSense system could substantially lower the barrier to entry for regional airports and private operators seeking comprehensive low-altitude airspace awareness without the footprint of traditional sensor arrays.

Sources: Lockheed Martin

Electric propulsion manufacturer ePropelled will quadruple its production capacity for uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) systems following a $60 million investment from the U.S. government. The funding will expand the company’s manufacturing footprint in Laconia, New Hampshire, from 20,000 to 80,000 square feet.

Announced in a press release on August 11, 2026, the expansion is supported by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. The initiative aims to strengthen the domestic supply chain for mission-critical drone technologies and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for dual-use electric propulsion systems.

Scaling domestic UAV production

ePropelled specializes in electric motors, electronic speed controllers, and complete propulsion systems for uncrewed aircraft. The newly announced facility expansion will allow the manufacturer to increase its annual production capacity by a factor of four. This scale-up addresses accelerating demand across defense, public safety, logistics, and agricultural markets.

In the company statement, ePropelled CEO Nick Grewal described the investment as a significant milestone for both the company and the broader U.S. advanced manufacturing sector.

“As demand for high-performance uncrewed systems continues to accelerate, expanding our manufacturing capacity ensures that we can deliver reliable, scalable, and secure propulsion systems produced in the United States,” Grewal said. “We are proud to support the government’s objective of strengthening domestic manufacturing while helping customers across government and commercial markets deploy advanced capabilities faster.”

Supply chain security and intellectual property

The $60 million injection aligns with broader federal objectives to secure the supply chain for critical aerospace components. By funding domestic production through programs like IBAS, the U.S. government is actively working to mitigate risks associated with offshore manufacturing of dual-use technologies.

Since its founding in 2018, ePropelled has developed a substantial portfolio of intellectual property to support these manufacturing efforts. The company has generated more than 40 patents across 13 categories, focusing on power and propulsion innovations for aerospace applications.

AirPro News analysis

The $60 million investment in ePropelled highlights a growing urgency within the U.S. defense apparatus to onshore critical subcomponents for uncrewed aerial systems. While airframe manufacturing has largely remained domestic for defense applications, propulsion systems and electronic speed controllers have historically relied on international supply chains. By quadrupling ePropelled’s capacity, the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program is directly addressing a known bottleneck in UAV procurement. We expect to see similar targeted investments in domestic component manufacturers as the government continues to prioritize scalable, attritable uncrewed systems.

Sources: ePropelled

Drones manufacturer Modovolo has integrated quantum-inspired simulation software from BQP to optimize the aerodynamic design of its 3D-printed propellers, yielding immediate increases in flight time and payload capacity.

Announced in a press release on August 7, 2026, the partnerships utilizes BQP’s BQPhy software and its QuantumNOW solver. The integration allows Modovolo to bypass traditional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) bottlenecks by running tens of thousands of simulations concurrently on existing high-performance computing and graphics processing unit infrastructure.

Overcoming computational bottlenecks in propeller design

Propeller optimization presents a complex engineering challenge due to the vast number of aerodynamic and structural variables involved at every point along a blade. Modovolo Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Arion Mangio noted that traditional tools struggle to account for these infinite variables, making the design process lengthy and prone to error.

Prior to the integration, Modovolo relied on proprietary genetic algorithms to develop high-efficiency designs. However, the sheer volume of potential three-dimensional geometries made the process highly time-intensive, often requiring weeks of computational work to re-run design iterations.

“By running thousands of simulations simultaneously, BQPhy eliminates the traditional trial-and-error bottleneck. It gives forward-thinking manufacturers like Modovolo the power to discover radically optimized geometries that were previously computationally invisible, moving from software output to physical testing at a pace the industry hasn’t seen before,” said Abhishek Chopra, Founder and CEO of BQP.

Chopra added that the software integration focuses on total design-space exploration rather than simply accelerating individual simulations.

Translating simulation to UAV performance

The application of the QuantumNOW solver has directly impacted the physical capabilities of Modovolo’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). By evaluating an unprecedented number of design variables simultaneously, the engineering team resolved immediate performance limitations and established a scalable system for future aircraft development.

Modovolo Co-Founder and CEO Justin Call explained that while the company had already developed a proprietary process for manufacturing affordable 3D-printed propellers, maximizing their aerodynamic efficiency using conventional software remained a slow process.

“BQPhy acted as a true force multiplier, giving us a massive competitive leap in UAV market. With the BQP-developed propellers we are seeing large increases in flight time and payload lift capacity,” Call stated.

AirPro News analysis

The integration of quantum-inspired solvers into commercial aerospace design highlights a critical shift in how manufacturers approach aerodynamic optimization. In the UAV sector, where battery density and payload capacity remain strict operational constraints, extracting marginal efficiency gains from propeller geometry is essential. By moving away from sequential CFD testing and adopting concurrent, large-scale simulation, manufacturers can significantly compress the development cycle. We expect this computational approach to become increasingly standard across the advanced air mobility and drone manufacturing sectors as companies seek to reduce the time and capital required for physical prototyping.

Sources: BQP via PR Newswire