Drone detection: Walaris AI sifts through sensor data for drones

The German-American software company Walaris offers Air Scout, an AI-based solution for drone detection. A visit to David Sonntag, Senior Director Business Development, at the company's stand at Enforce Tac 2025.

Mr Sonntag, at what range does your system work?
That depends on the sensors used. Our software analyses the data from sensors such as cameras and radar. With powerful sensors we can detect a drone at up to 3,000 metres and also classify it at up to 700 metres, that is, identify what type of drone it is. By day and by night. Incidentally, our AI also works for detecting land and sea objects. Anyone who can classify a micro drone at 700 metres can do the same with a tank or a frigate.

Is a radar always necessary for this?
No, it is always a mix of two sensors. Our philosophy is: every sensor has its strengths and weaknesses. So we 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. But there are also customers who do not want a radar, so as not to be detected. They then get an acoustic sensor. Or a sensor that detects the radio frequencies of drones. Although it has to be said that not all drones emit signals, for example when they fly autonomously or are tethered. We have integrated a wide range of sensor types into our software to cover all customer requirements.

The crux of drone detection is distinguishing a bird from a drone?
It is about tracking and classifying very small objects in poor light, against difficult backgrounds and at long range, so that a weapon system receives the data in a form that allows it to shoot the object down.

Where is Walaris software in use?
With the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in the Asul system (note: a defence system against unmanned aerial vehicles) and in Ukraine. At Enforce Tac we are showing, together with Diehl Defence, a vehicle-based solution, the Kinetic Defence Vehicle, in which the sensors are combined with a remote weapon station on a vehicle. Our AI is in use there.

Where do you develop the software?
In Germany. The parent company is in the USA, but two thirds of the employees are in Europe. That is why the IP rights are also held in Germany.

How is Enforce Tac going for you?
I'll just say: solution meets demand. There is currently a capability gap in drone detection. It lies less in the really large systems than in these small, mobile, rapidly deployable solutions for untrained personnel.