Vigilant Aerospace, in partnership with DeTect and Oklahoma State University (OSU), is making significant strides in advanced airspace management and detect-and-avoid (DAA) technology.
Through a project funded by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the team is developing a networked version of Vigilant Aerospace’s FlightHorizon software, integrating multiple radars—including DeTect’s advanced HARRIER 7360 True3D radar—to enhance uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations.
The partnership demonstrates how innovative sensing solutions can significantly improve the safety and scalability of drone operations, including droneports and UAS flight corridors.
Leveraging DeTect’s Radar for Advanced UAS Airspace Management
The research effort focuses on integrating and testing three distinct radar models, including DeTect’s HARRIER 7360 True3D air traffic surveillance radar. This advanced system, which features a 14-kilometer detection range and full 360-degree coverage, is seen as a game-changer for droneport applications and larger UAS operations. The FlightHorizon system is the first integrated DAA and airspace management platform to utilize this state-of-the-art radar, marking a milestone in autonomous flight safety.
By combining multiple radars—such as DeTect’s ground-based HARRIER 7360 and onboard EchoFlight radar—with FlightHorizon’s software, the project aims to create a scalable, distributed solution for detect-and-avoid. The system is designed to:
- Correlate targets across multiple radars to eliminate duplicate detections.
- Channelize radar frequencies to mitigate signal interference.
- Integrate real-time data sources, including ADS-B, autopilot telemetry, FAA SWIM air traffic feeds, and weather radar.
- Provide a modular framework that supports multi-radar configurations for expanded coverage.
Ryan Walsh, Senior Project Manager, DeTect, said, “We are excited to have FlightHorizon be the first airspace management and detect-and-avoid system in the world to integrate DeTect’s powerful HARRIER 7360 True3D radar. This combination of technology and expertise is a major industry milestone, and we look forward to seeing the system demonstrated as part of multiple state, federal and tribal projects including for flight safety at droneports.”
Field Testing and Real-World Validation
Recent field tests have demonstrated the effectiveness of the integrated system, successfully connecting multiple radars to FlightHorizon with target correlation and coordinated fields of regard. A variety of aircraft—including multirotor and fixed-wing drones, as well as piloted Cessna aircraft—were used to assess detection performance and system reliability.
DeTect’s HARRIER 7360 radar played a vital role in these tests by providing wide-area airspace surveillance, showcasing its potential to support large-scale UAS operations. The ability to ground-truth radar data using precision GPS tracking further validated the accuracy of the system, reinforcing its capability as a next-generation airspace management solution.
Industry Impact and Future Applications
The success of this project is a crucial step toward advancing Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems and supporting the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.
Moreover, the collaboration between Vigilant Aerospace and DeTect is driving the evolution of dual-use civilian and military DAA solutions. The project supports the continued development of the FlightHorizon PILOT onboard system, leveraging DeTect’s EchoFlight radar for airborne situational awareness, as well as the FlightHorizon COMMANDER ground-based airspace management system, powered by the HARRIER 7360 radar.
Kraettli Epperson, Vigilant Aerospace CEO, added, “OAIRE’s research and engineering support for this project has been exemplary and the testing environment at OSU’s Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station is perfect for putting some of the top radars currently available through their paces. With technology evolving rapidly in this space, it is important that we integrate and test the latest sensors in a rigorous way, and these live field and flight tests with general aviation aircraft are the best way to test real-world performance and prove our real-world safety.”
By integrating advanced radar technologies and refining multi-sensor airspace management capabilities, this initiative is paving the way for safer and more efficient drone operations, enabling the future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), long-range UAS missions, and next-generation droneport infrastructure.
