Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Prism C-UAS Software for Extended Small-Drone Detection Range
AI Analysis
Teledyne FLIR OEM released Prism C-UAS, a new software stack designed to significantly extend the detection range of small drones using advanced thermal imaging and AI. The software reportedly achieves detection with fewer than four pixels on target, increasing reaction time for countermeasures. It integrates with existing Teledyne FLIR cameras and select commercial visible cameras.
Key Takeaways
- Prism C-UAS utilizes patented algorithms for denoising, contrast enhancement, and upsampling to improve signal-to-noise ratio and detection range.
- AI-driven object detection and multi-object tracking reduce false positives and maintain persistent target tracks.
- The system is optimized for detecting small, fast, and maneuvering drones.
- Prism C-UAS supports Teledyne FLIR Boson+ and Neutrino IR camera families, as well as select commercial visible cameras.
- Demonstration is scheduled for SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2026 (April 28-30, National Harbor, MD).
Why It Matters
Increased drone incursions (100+/month near US airports, 60k+ flights near US-Mexico border in 6 months) highlight the growing need for effective C-UAS solutions. Prism C-UAS's extended detection range provides a critical advantage in mitigating drone threats by increasing the time available for response. This software-defined approach allows for upgrades and integration with existing hardware, potentially lowering the cost of enhanced C-UAS capabilities.
Teledyne FLIR OEM this week announced the release of their new Prism C-UAS, a C-UAS software stack that they say is designed to push detection and tracking range beyond what conventional systems can deliver against small, hard-to-detect drones.
The software combines patented thermal infrared image signal processing with AI-driven perception to enable small-drone detection with fewer than four pixels on target, a threshold that extends the window for operators to initiate countermeasures before a threat closes the distance.
The need for that extended window is well-documented. The FAA reports more than 100 drone incursions per month near U.S. airports, while the Department of Homeland Security testified that more than 60,000 drone flights were detected near the U.S.–Mexico border in the final six months of 2024.
Under the hood, Prism C-UAS uses patented denoise, local contrast enhancement, and upsampling algorithms to improve target signal-to-noise ratio and increase moving target indicator detection range. Detected targets are then handed off to an AI-based object detector and a multi-object tracker to reduce false positives and maintain persistent tracks. The system, they say, is optimized specifically for small, fast, and maneuvering drone targets.
"Software has become a defining performance differentiator in today's C-UAS environment," said Jared Faraudo, vice president of product management with Teledyne FLIR OEM. “Prism C‑UAS enables sub two x two‑pixel drone detection and tracking, providing a significant increase in drone detection range over conventional systems. It reflects our vertical integration and domain expertise, transforming raw thermal data into actionable intelligence for modern, multi‑layered defense architectures.”
On the integration side, Prism C-UAS natively supports data from Teledyne FLIR OEM's Boson+ and Neutrino IR camera families, as well as “select commercial off-the-shelf visible cameras” for multispectral configurations. The company says the software is designed to reduce integration risk and support deployment across a range of C-UAS architectures globally.
Teledyne FLIR OEM is demonstrating Prism C-UAS at SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2026, running April 28–30 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
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