A major milestone in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) airspace development has been reached, with Vigilant Aerospace Systems advancing its project with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA).
At the core of this deployment is a multi-sensor airspace management system designed to enable safe, scalable autonomous flight operations. Central to this capability is the integration of advanced surveillance radar technology, including systems provided by DeTect, Inc..
Installed at the Oklahoma Air & Space Port, the system combines long-range radar with transponder and sensor inputs to deliver real-time airspace awareness, detect-and-avoid functionality, and persistent tracking across a wide operational environment. Radar plays a critical role in ensuring reliable, all-weather detection of cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft, forming the backbone of safe BVLOS operations.
This infrastructure removes the need for traditional chase aircraft by providing automated, radar-led surveillance and decision support, enabling more efficient and scalable testing of uncrewed aircraft systems, including high-speed drones and advanced air mobility platforms.
The project represents a significant step forward in establishing integrated radar as a foundational layer in next-generation airspace management. It also reinforces the growing role of DeTect’s technology in supporting BVLOS operations, airspace safety, and the transition toward autonomous aviation at scale.
As global demand for unmanned and autonomous flight increases, radar-enabled systems such as these are becoming essential to delivering safe, compliant, and operationally viable airspace solutions.
