LMT Defence, Thales Italia to explore mobile networks for drone detection

Latvia's LMT Defence and Thales Italia signed a memorandum of understanding to study counter-drone detection using commercial mobile-communications networks and defence-oriented 4G and 5G technologies. The companies plan to combine LMT's telecommunications infrastructure and services with Thales Italia's secure networking expertise to identify and track unmanned aircraft through characteristic behaviour in the radio environment. The cooperation follows work on integrated sensing and communications and aims to assess technical feasibility for future counter-UAS applications. No operational surveillance network, procurement value or deployment timetable was announced, and the agreement should be treated as joint technology exploration rather than a fielded detection system.