Find out more about career opportunities at DeTect Read more
- DeTect, Inc. 2817 Hwy 77, Panama City, Florida 32405 USA
- Contact DeTect
Unauthorised drones pose a growing threat to aviation safety, military operations, critical infrastructure, public events and law enforcement. Detecting, tracking and responding to drone incursions requires more than a single sensor. It requires a fully integrated, multi-layer approach.
DeTect’s DroneWatcher® is an advanced multi-layer counter-UAS (C-UAS) system combining radar, radio frequency (RF) sensors and real-time AI target classification to detect, track, identify and support interdiction of unauthorised drones and UAS.
DroneWatcher® technologies can operate independently as standalone sensors or be combined into a fully integrated system providing the level of security specific to each customer’s requirements. The system is upgradable to meet the security challenges presented by continually evolving drone capabilities, features and threats.
DeTect has over 20 years of experience providing drone operators and security teams with the ability to quickly identify and respond to drone hazards. No single sensor can be certain to find 100% of threats to all airspace users. The best approach is a variety of sensors feeding usable, de-cluttered data. DeTect is committed to providing total solutions using sensor suites tailored to customer needs.
DeTect provides more than radar hardware.
Every DroneWatcher® deployment is supported by DeTect’s integrated detection, tracking and display platform, combining multi-layer sensor data into a single consolidated real-time situational awareness picture.
This integrated hardware and software approach delivers:
DroneWatcher® combines active and passive sensing technologies to deliver a complete airspace picture, from initial detection through to identification, alerting and interdiction.
Advanced solid-state Doppler radar provides detection and tracking of non-cooperative, non-RF controlled and autonomously programmed drones at ranges from 2+ nautical miles for micro UAS (DJI Phantom class) to 4-6+ nm for medium UAS (Raven class) and 14+ nm for large UAS (Global Hawk class). Radio Frequency (RF) antennas simultaneously detect RF and Wi-Fi controlled drones and identify their operators via signal fingerprinting.
Real-time AI target classification, designed specifically for small targets, automatically differentiates drones from birds, aircraft and other airspace users. Video analytics via PTZ/EO/IR cameras provide cue-to-target visual confirmation. Remote ID and ADS-B receivers add cooperative target data for a complete airspace picture.
The platform processes movement data to assess real-time collision risk.
DroneWatcherWEB delivers a consolidated, customisable situational awareness display with visual, audible and text message alerting to security, law enforcement and operations teams. DeTect’s proprietary drone interdiction technology enables active response, and the system integrates with and controls third-party interdiction technologies including jamming, kinetic, LRAD and weapons systems.
DroneWatcher® systems are deployed at military airfields and commercial airports where unauthorised drone activity poses a direct threat to flight operations, aircraft and passengers.
At military airfields, DroneWatcher® supports force protection operations, providing real-time drone detection and tracking across the full airfield perimeter and approach corridors. The system integrates with existing C2 systems for consolidated display and can be rapidly deployed in mobile configurations for forward-based operations.
At commercial airports, DroneWatcher® provides the multi-layer drone detection and alerting capability required to protect flight paths, respond to drone incursions and support regulatory compliance.
DroneWatcher® C-UAS systems are engineered for military force protection, law enforcement and first responder operations where drone threats must be detected, identified and responded to rapidly.
For military users, DroneWatcher® provides multi-domain drone detection and interdiction capability for base protection, convoy security, forward operations and training ranges. For law enforcement and first responders, the system provides real-time drone detection for public event security, critical infrastructure protection, border operations and incident response.
DroneWatcher® provides multi-layer drone detection and security for public events, sports venues, critical infrastructure and high-security facilities where unauthorised drone activity poses a direct safety and security risk.
The system’s wide-area detection, consolidated display and flexible alert configuration make it well suited to large venues, city-wide deployments and networked installations covering long perimeters such as coastlines and border crossings.
Multi-Layer Sensing – Radar, RF antennas, PTZ/EO/IR cameras and Remote ID operating independently or combined
2D and 3D Radar – Two-dimensional, three-dimensional and Precision Tracking Radar (PTR) options
RF Detection – Radio Frequency antennas detect and locate operators of RF and Wi-Fi controlled drones
AI Target Classification – Real-time AI classification designed specifically for small UAS targets
False Positive Rejection – Automatic rejection of birds and other non-drone targets from radar detections
Multi-Target Detection – Simultaneous detection of drones, birds and conventional aircraft
Video Analytics – PTZ/EO/IR cameras with video analytics for cue-to-target tracking and identification
Remote ID and ADS-B – Integration of Remote ID and ADS-B data for cooperative target awareness
Consolidated C2 Display – Central data system integrating all sensors and third-party applications in one display
Drone Interdiction – DeTect’s proprietary interdiction technology with third-party system integration
Third-Party Integration – Compatible with jamming, kinetic, LRAD, weapons and other interdiction systems
Wide-Area Coverage – Networked configurations covering large areas, borders and extended perimeters
Mobile and Fixed – Available in fixed skid and mobile configurations including vehicle-mounted systems
Automated Alerting – Visual, audible and text message alerts to security, operations and law enforcement
Data Logging – Full logging of drone ID signatures, location, flight path and event data
Upgradable Architecture – System is upgradable as drone threats and capabilities evolve
DroneWatcher® is DeTect’s multi-layer counter-UAS (C-UAS) system. It detects, tracks, identifies and supports interdiction of unauthorised drones and UAS using a combination of radar, RF sensors, cameras, Remote ID and ADS-B. The system is multi-functional and can simultaneously detect drones, conventional aircraft, birds and other airspace users across a wide area.
DroneWatcher® detects drones across all size categories. Typical detection ranges are: large UAS (Global Hawk class) to 14+ nm; medium UAS (Raven class) to 4-6+ nm; micro UAS (DJI Phantom class) to 2+ nm. The system also detects non-cooperative, non-RF controlled and autonomously programmed drones that RF-only sensors cannot find.
Radar is an active sensing technology that emits energy pulses and detects reflected returns, enabling detection of any drone regardless of whether it is transmitting a signal. This includes non-cooperative and autonomously programmed drones. RF detection is a passive technology that identifies drones by detecting the radio frequency signals they emit, and can locate the drone’s operator. DroneWatcher® combines both, providing detection coverage that neither technology can deliver alone.
Yes. DeTect’s solid-state Doppler radar detects non-cooperative, non-RF controlled and GPS-programmed drones that passive RF sensors cannot find. This is a critical capability as autonomous and encrypted drone operations become more common.
Counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems are designed to detect, track, identify and support mitigation of the risk posed by unmanned aircraft operating in a designated area. DroneWatcher® provides a multi-layer C-UAS capability combining radar, RF, camera and Remote ID sensing with integrated interdiction options.
DroneWatcher® includes DeTect’s proprietary drone interdiction technology and integrates with third-party interdiction systems including jamming, kinetic systems, LRAD and weapons systems. The appropriate interdiction response depends on the regulatory environment, mission type and customer requirements.
Yes. DroneWatcher® systems are available in fixed skid and mobile configurations, including vehicle-mounted deployments for rapid forward deployment, convoy protection and short-term event security.
Yes. Systems can be linearly networked to cover large areas and extended perimeters including border crossings, coastlines and large facilities. The consolidated DroneWatcherWEB display provides a unified situational awareness picture across networked deployments.
DroneWatcher® includes automatic real-time false positive rejection that differentiates drones from birds in radar detections. DeTect draws on over 20 years of experience in radar ornithology and bird detection, giving the system a significant advantage in environments where bird activity would otherwise degrade detection reliability.
DeTect has been delivering drone detection and counter-UAS technology since the earliest days of commercial UAS operations, building on decades of expertise in radar engineering, intelligent sensor systems and airspace surveillance.
The DroneWatcher® platform draws on the same radar engineering heritage as DeTect’s MERLIN® and HARRIER® systems, combining advanced solid-state radar hardware with DeTect’s proprietary AI classification software to deliver reliable, accurate and operationally practical drone detection across any environment.
DeTect’s unique background in both radar engineering and radar ornithology gives DroneWatcher® a proven advantage in the most challenging detection environments. Automatic bird rejection, multi-sensor fusion and a fully customisable C2 display ensure that operators receive actionable intelligence rather than alert fatigue.
With DroneWatcher®, customers receive more than a sensor system.
DeTect provides comprehensive application support with every deployment, including site assessment and sensor placement modelling, engineering, installation, concept of operations (CONOPS) development, system integration and operator training.
Every system is backed by DeTect’s team of radar engineers, drone detection specialists and C-UAS application experts, ensuring that each deployment is calibrated, integrated and aligned with the customer’s security requirements throughout its operational life.
DroneWatcher® systems are available for purchase, long-term lease and short-term rental, with or without DeTect operators, and are backed by a full parts and labour warranty covering the complete system.
