Defense technology company Shield AI has announced the launch of the ViDAR Pod, a new airborne surveillance system that uses artificial intelligence and optical sensors to provide wide-area detection without emitting any signals, a capability known as passive sensing.
The system, whose name stands for Visual Detection and Ranging, is designed to offer a stealthy alternative to traditional radar, which can be detected by adversaries because it emits electromagnetic waves.
Key Features and Capabilities
According to the company’s announcement, the ViDAR Pod is a compact, 60-centimeter tube that can be mounted underneath an aircraft. Its key capabilities include:
- Passive Operation: The system emits no signals, allowing aircraft to conduct surveillance without revealing their position.
- Multi-Domain Surveillance: It can detect, locate, and classify targets across both land and maritime domains.
- Day and Night Operation: Using multi-spectral cameras, the pod provides coverage in various lighting conditions.
- Target Recognition: The integrated AI is designed to identify a range of threats, including ground vehicles, personnel on foot (“dismounts”), and maritime targets such as fast boats, “dark vessels” with their transponders off, and semi-submersibles.
Designed for Versatility and Stealth
The pod is engineered for Group 3 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) but is also suitable for rotary and small fixed-wing aircraft. By complementing or providing an alternative to radar, ViDAR aims to address the challenge of detecting objects with a low radar cross-section.
“As modern battlefields become more contested, platforms must detect, locate, classify, and track threats without relying on active emissions,” said Christian Gutierrez, Vice President of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI. “ViDAR delivers persistent surveillance at a fraction of the size, weight, and power—without emitting a signal—giving operators a critical advantage in covert operations.”
Availability and Demonstration
Shield AI will showcase the ViDAR Pod at the upcoming U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space Maritime Expo in National Harbor, Maryland. The company, founded in 2015, develops autonomous systems for defense applications and supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide.
This new system represents a significant step in applying AI and passive sensing technology to enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions while maintaining operational stealth.
