Roark Aerospace Operates Global Drone Detection Network

London-based Roark Aerospace runs one of the largest worldwide drone detection and hyperspectral imaging networks. The defense company has raised roughly €57.6 million since its 2022 founding.

According to a recent publication, Roark builds autonomous systems providing real-time battlefield awareness. The technology integrates sensors, counter-drone tools, and decision support into unified platforms deployable across land, air, and maritime operations.

The product lineup includes drone detection as a service, counter-drone weapons, drone deployment for robotics, and continuous imaging through wide-area motion sensors and hyperspectral cameras. These capabilities let customers monitor large areas simultaneously while tracking multiple threats.

Plexus AI handles automated threat identification and response coordination. The artificial intelligence system processes sensor data and recommends actions without requiring constant human oversight.

Roark's command platform operates at the network edge rather than relying on centralized servers. The system scans radio frequencies, decrypts communications, and analyzes Doppler shifts to locate stealthy drones that evade traditional detection methods.

Modern conflicts increasingly involve small unmanned aircraft that are cheap, numerous, and hard to spot. Roark addresses this challenge by combining multiple detection technologies into networks that cover wider areas than single-point sensors allow.

The company sells detection capabilities as an ongoing service rather than just selling hardware. Customers access Roark's global sensor network and receive threat alerts without building entire detection infrastructures themselves.

The €57.6 million in funding supports expanding the detection network and developing additional autonomous capabilities. Defense organizations need better tools for tracking proliferating drone threats across theaters.