Ericsson introduces 5G drone detection system for defense and critical infrastructure protection

Ericsson has introduced an Integrated Sensing and Communication system that uses sensing-capable 5G radios, edge computing and signal processing to detect and track drones. The technology analyses reflected radio signals, allowing it to follow aerial objects that are not connected to the mobile network and complement dedicated surveillance sensors. Demonstrations with AT&T in Texas and Erillisverkot in Helsinki have tested drone detection and tracking across different network configurations. Small-scale sensing-only commercial pilots are planned for selected customers in 2027, followed by wider deployments from 2028, with integrated communications capabilities to evolve toward 6G.