Thales is partnering with Australian firm Visionary Machines (VM) to develop a passive drone detection capability that combines their proprietary technologies.
The collaboration aims to enhance defenses against unmanned aerial system threats by delivering what the companies describe as a “best-in-class” detection capability.
At the core of the effort is VM’s Pandion Sentinel, a passive optical system that can detect, track, and identify a wide range of drones while remaining electronically silent, making it undetectable by enemy systems.
The platform-agnostic technology can also integrate with external hardware, including Thales’ wide-area scanning systems, to expand surveillance coverage without emitting signals that could reveal its position.
“By combining our software with Thales’ wide-area scanning hardware, we have the opportunity to push the boundaries of passive drone detection,” said VM CEO Sonny Foster, as quoted by Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter.
“Together, we’re exploring how we can extend surveillance across much larger areas while maintaining a completely passive profile, giving operators earlier and more reliable warning of airborne threats.”
Live Trials Ahead
The companies plan to begin live trials of the passive detection capability in August, although technical details of the concept have not yet been disclosed.
During the demonstrations, Pandion Sentinel will be used to validate the system’s ability to detect and track a broad range of drone threats.
“The combination of Thales’ scanning hardware and VM’s detection and tracking software presents the potential to create a best-in-class detection capability to provide much needed protection to soldiers on the battlefield,” Thales stated.
