Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Prism C-UAS Software for Extended Small-Drone Detection Range

Why It Matters

Extended detection range gives public‑safety operators critical extra seconds to neutralize rogue drones, addressing rising incursions at airports and borders. The software’s AI‑enhanced accuracy lowers false alarms, making C‑UAS deployments more reliable and cost‑effective.

Key Takeaways

• Prism C‑UAS detects drones with fewer than four pixels
• Extends detection range beyond conventional thermal systems
• Supports Boson+ and Neutrino IR cameras and C‑OTS visible sensors
• AI-driven perception reduces false positives and improves tracking persistence
• Demonstrated at SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2026 in Maryland

Pulse Analysis

The proliferation of commercial and hobbyist drones has created a pressing security challenge for airports, critical infrastructure, and border patrols. Recent FAA data shows over 100 unauthorized drone incursions per month near U.S. airports, while DHS reported more than 60,000 detections along the U.S.–Mexico border in late 2024. Traditional counter‑UAS solutions often rely on radar or basic optical tracking, which can miss small, low‑observable platforms until they are dangerously close. Extending the detection envelope is therefore a strategic priority for public‑safety agencies and private operators alike.

Prism C‑UAS tackles this gap by fusing advanced thermal‑infrared signal processing with machine‑learning‑based object detection. Patented denoise, local‑contrast‑enhancement, and up‑sampling algorithms boost the signal‑to‑noise ratio, allowing the system to recognize a drone with fewer than four pixels on target. Once identified, an AI‑powered multi‑object tracker maintains persistent tracks and filters out false positives, delivering actionable intelligence to operators. Compatibility with Teledyne FLIR’s Boson+ and Neutrino camera families, plus select commercial‑off‑the‑shelf visible sensors, streamlines integration across existing C‑UAS platforms and reduces deployment costs.

From a business perspective, Prism C‑UAS positions Teledyne FLIR OEM as a software‑centric differentiator in a market traditionally dominated by hardware vendors. By offering a modular, scalable solution that can be retrofitted to legacy sensor suites, the company opens new revenue streams through licensing and support contracts. The upcoming demonstration at SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2026 provides a high‑visibility platform to attract defense contractors, municipal agencies, and border security partners seeking next‑generation drone mitigation capabilities. As regulatory pressure mounts and the threat landscape evolves, solutions that combine extended range with AI‑driven accuracy are likely to become the new standard for counter‑UAS deployments.