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A battlefield-proven AI system originally deployed in Ukraine is being adapted for use on U.S. military drones. The Safe Pro Object Threat Detection (SPOTD) system will be integrated into Red Cat’s Black Widow unmanned aerial vehicle, bringing advanced threat identification capabilities directly to the tactical edge.
SPOTD is designed to autonomously detect and classify over 150 types of explosive threats, including anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, unexploded ordnance, and landmines, according to the press release. It works by processing live 4K video onboard the drone, eliminating the need for cloud-based computing or off-site data transmission. This allows threat detection to occur in real time, even in communication-limited or disconnected environments.
The system’s output can be linked with military situational awareness tools, including the U.S. Army’s Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK), allowing ground forces to receive immediate alerts and updates based on drone surveillance.
In addition to threat detection, the Black Widow drone will incorporate Safe Pro’s Navigation, Observation and Detection Engine (NODE). This software component enables users to generate and interact with 2D and 3D mission maps, including hazard overlays, and is optimized for use in low-bandwidth environments common in field operations.
SPOTD’s development has been shaped by its deployment in Ukraine, where it was trained on over 1.88 million drone-captured images, identifying more than 34,000 confirmed threats across over 20,000 acres of terrain. This extensive dataset has helped fine-tune the AI’s ability to recognize various explosive hazards under real-world conditions.
In recent months, Safe Pro Group has signed agreements with drone manufacturers such as Ondas Holdings and Unusual Machines to integrate the system into their platforms. Additionally, a U.S. government contractor selected SPOTD in July to support explosive ordnance disposal operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
As drone-based reconnaissance and situational awareness become more central to military operations, tools like SPOTD and NODE are emerging as key components in supporting safer, more informed decision-making on the battlefield.
