The German-American software company Walaris offers Air Scout, an AI-based solution for drone detection. Military News David Sonntag, Senior Director Business Development, at the Enforce Tac 2025 at the trade fair stand.
Mr. Sonntag, at what distance does your system work?
This depends on the sensors used. Our software analyzes the data from sensors such as cameras and radar. With powerful sensors, we can detect a drone at up to 3,000 meters and also classify it up to 700 meters, i.e. identify what type of drone it is. By day and by night. Incidentally, our AI also works to detect land and sea objects. If you can classify a small drone at 700 meters, you can also do the same with a tank or a frigate.
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Is radar always necessary for this?
No, it is always a mixture of two sensors. Our philosophy is: every sensor has its strengths and weaknesses. We therefore compensate for the weakness of one sensor with the strength of the other. In many cases, the radar is combined with electro-optical cameras or thermal cameras. However, there are also customers who do not want radar in order to avoid detection. They then get an acoustic sensor. Or a sensor that detects the radio frequencies of drones. It’s worth mentioning that not all drones emit signals, for example when they fly autonomously or by cable. We have integrated a wide variety of sensor types into our software to cover all customer requirements.
The tricky part of drone detection is distinguishing the bird from the drone?
The aim is to track and classify very small objects in poor lighting conditions against a difficult background and at long range so that a weapon system receives the data it needs to shoot down the object.
Where is the Walaris software in use?
In the Bundeswehr’s Asul system (note: defense system against unmanned aerial vehicles) and in Ukraine (-> current news from the Ukraine war). At the Enforce Tac we will be exhibiting with Diehl Defense a vehicle-based solution of the Kinetic Defense Vehicle, where the sensors on a vehicle are combined with a remote weapon station. Our AI is deployed there.
Where do you develop the software?
In Germany. Although the parent company is in the USA, two thirds of the employees are in Europe. The IP rights are therefore also located in Germany.
How are things going for you on the Enforce Tac?
I just say: solution meets demand. There is currently a capability gap in drone detection. It’s not so much in the really big systems, but in these small, mobile, quickly deployable solutions for untrained personnel.
Here to our drone topic area with all the latest news on the subject.
