Lockheed Martin says it detected and tracked drones using a commercial 5G network without modifying the operator’s deployed radios, in a demonstration the company presents as a route to wide-area airspace monitoring built on infrastructure that is already installed. The demonstration took place in the Miami area in July 2026 and involved Verizon, NVIDIA, Keysight Technologies, ODC, and Astris AI, Lockheed Martin’s wholly owned subsidiary. According to Lockheed Martin, its NetSense system detected the drones, alerted the team, and maintained track custody through the flight. Turning cellular signals into a drone sensorA drone flies during a July 2026 demonstration of Lockheed Martin’s NetSense 5G-based detection system in the Miami area. (Credit: Lockheed Martin)Instead of adding radars or dedicated radio frequency sensors, NetSense analyzes disturbances in the signals already traversing the cellular network.