AirSight launches lower-cost drone detection program for local governments

AirSight has introduced AirSight Metro, a drone detection and airspace intelligence program for cities, counties, and towns. The package is designed to give local agencies wider visibility into drones and nearby aircraft at a lower price point than typical enterprise systems.

Why it matters: - Cities, counties and towns are dealing with more drone activity, but many still lack sensors across large parts of their airspace. - AirSight Metro is aimed at giving local agencies a lower-cost way to see drones and manned aircraft in one live view. - The program is designed to support faster emergency response, airspace deconfliction and investigations.

What happened: - AirSight announced the launch of AirSight Metro as an affordable drone detection and airspace intelligence program for local governments. - The company unveiled the program in Dallas on Nov. 10, 2026. - AirSight Metro combines real-time and historical drone detections with ADS-B data on manned aircraft. - The program is available now, and AirSight is booking demos at airsight.com/metro.

The details: - AirSight says a three-sensor network can provide wide-area drone detection with minimal infrastructure for $13,950 per year. - The price is billed annually on a three-year plan and includes no hidden fees. - Agencies with existing drone detection sensors can request a custom quote based on current equipment. - The three connected sensors typically cover 45 to 65 square miles with overlapping 360-degree coverage. - Agencies can also use a custom sensor layout based on local priorities, and sensors can be added later as coverage needs grow. - AirSight Metro runs on AirGuard, AirSight’s drone and pilot detection software platform. - Operators receive real-time alerts showing a drone’s ID, model, detection time, location and the pilot’s location. - Records, Playback and analytics reporting are included for investigations and planning. - ADS-B data places manned aircraft on the same live map with aircraft type, altitude, speed, heading, origin and destination. - Past flights can be searched, exported and replayed alongside drone activity. - Each subscription includes Expanded Nationwide Drone Search. - After a drone is detected in a jurisdiction, operators can search AirGuard’s national database, which includes more than three years of detection data, to find other sightings of that drone. - The plan includes the AirGuard platform, unlimited users and existing integrations with law enforcement technology partners, including Drone as First Responder systems, at no additional cost. - AirSight also offers AirSight Metro for DFR to help agencies deconflict department drones with medical helicopters and other aircraft.

Between the lines: - The launch targets a budget gap: enterprise-style drone detection systems often price out smaller governments. - AirSight is packaging detection, aircraft awareness and multi-agency access into one subscription to reduce the need for separate tools. - The company is also positioning the product for operational problems that are immediate and local, such as contraband drops, emergency air operations and drone complaints. - FAA estimates cited in the announcement put the U.S. small-drone fleet at about 2.6 million aircraft at the end of 2025, including roughly 1.55 million recreational drones.

What's next: - Local agencies can deploy the system quickly and expand coverage as needed. - Cities, counties and towns can use the shared airspace picture across police, fire, EMS, emergency management and corrections. - AirSight is encouraging agencies to learn more and schedule demonstrations as adoption decisions move forward.

The bottom line: - AirSight Metro is pitched as a lower-cost, easier-to-deploy way for local governments to track drones, monitor nearby aircraft and respond with more confidence.