DroneShield and OpenWorks Engineering cooperate on drone sensing

Detecting small drones is hard. It always has been, which is why it is important to be aware of developments in detection. To that end, DroneShield and OpenWorks Engineering are collaborating on drone detection. Combining AI and high-end optics for detection and classification is a solid option for point defence. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on March 25, 2026. 

DroneShield and OpenWorks Engineering have collaborated to integrate OpenWorks’ optics into DroneShield’s DroneSentry-C2, a command and control software. DroneSentry-C2 is designed to combine sensors into a single operational picture, the March 24 press release states.

It can currently combine outputs from radio frequency sensors, which can mean radar as well as signals intelligence. The key difference between the two is the emissions profile. A radar will generally send energy out to find a target, bouncing radio waves off of the drone. This means that another platform could detect the radar and potentially locate it from its signals alone. Signals intelligence tends to be passive, meaning that it would focus on detecting the command links between the drone and the operator. 

The DroneSentry-C2 includes a set of algorithms and artificial intelligence models designed to facilitate target recognition. The product is called DroneOptID and is described as, “an AI-driven machine vision capability designed to deliver autonomous visual detection, validation, and tracking of drone threats.” It is sensor agnostic, which means that it can work with the sensor from OpenWorks as well as other cameras. 

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OpenWorks is firmly establishing itself in the air defence space. Its VisionPace sensor head was released at DSEI, offering extremely precise tracking. It has also expanded its facilities and staff in response to growing demand for its capabilities. 

Calibre comment: Why is detecting drones so difficult? 

Small drones like a DJI Mavic are difficult to detect because of their size, materials, and the way they move. Small objects reflect less radar energy, and are generally harder to see with the naked eye. This is why many videos from Ukraine show soldiers spotting a drone at the very last minute. But the small size combined with low density of metal components also means that there is little to reflect radar energy. It’s not impossible, and companies like Blighter offer radars built to detect drones. But radar is far from perfect, and cannot be relied upon when the stakes of missing a drone can be so high. Finally, small drones tend to hover, or move quite slowly, especially when used for reconnaissance. This further reduces the doppler effect that is used by some radar systems to identify and classify a flying object. 

• DSEI UK 2025: Securis C-UAS system unveiled | Calibre Defence 
• Moog and Echodyne partner on integrated weapon systems – Calibre Defence 

So, with all of this in mind, most counter-drone solutions tend to combine sensor modalities. This may include optical, radar, and signals intelligence, as is the case for the Securis system from Allen-Vanguard. Doing this also offers multiple options for defeating a target, including jamming and kinetic options, for example. But, as identified by DroneShield, combining those sensors into a single operational picture is key. 

The lead image shows a notional setup for a DroneShield system with a sight from OpenWorks Engineering integrated. Credit: DroneShield.