DroneShield has announced its Q2 2026 software release today (April 7), which includes updates across its RF sensing, AI, ATAK-CIV plugin, and command-and-control (C2) platforms.
The release comes amid a sharp rise in global drone activity, with recent industry and government reporting highlighting the increasing use of both low-cost commercial drones and long-range fixed-wing platforms across conflict zones, critical infrastructure and public safety environments. Meanwhile, studies from U.S. oversight bodies point to significant gaps in counter-drone readiness, particularly across civilian infrastructure such as airports and urban environments.
At the core of the release is a new identity and prioritisation framework designed to reduce operator burden in high-tempo environments. Drones can now be automatically classified as Friendly, Neutral, Hostile or Unknown using serial-number-based identification and Remote ID inputs. These classifications are applied at the sensor level and carried consistently through to ATAK-CIV and C2 environments. Combined with new emitter prioritisation, operators are presented with the most relevant threats first, while low-value or background signals are suppressed.
DroneShield has also relaunched its ATAK-CIV plugin as RfLink, a fully reengineered system designed to deliver shared RF awareness across distributed teams. RfLink enables real-time RF detection visualisation within ATAK-CIV, line-of-bearing rendering and directional awareness via DroneSentry-X Mk2, improved Cursor-on-Target data sharing across users and devices, and propagation of identity tagging and classification rules. ATAK-CIV users can receive consistent data from RfLink users without installing the plugin. RfLink creates a shared, real-time understanding of the RF environment, including across dispersed teams and challenging terrain. Additional features, including Wi-Fi filtering and improved overlay management, are designed to reduce visual clutter and help operators maintain focus on genuine threats. DroneShield says that the newly designed ATAK-CIV plugin allows teams to operate from a single, aligned view of the RF environment, improving coordination, reducing miscommunication and enabling faster and threat localisation across distributed units.
The release includes updates to RfDeviceManager (RfDM) and RfAI embedded software, introducing a redesigned interface and expanded detection intelligence. The new interface enables operators to adjust settings without losing situational awareness. Alignment with DroneSentry-C2’s interface also reduces training overheads. Key improvements include an expanded RfAI emitter library with new drone and controller profiles, improved Remote ID performance and stability, emitter prioritisation to suppress low-value signals, and disruption power control by frequency band. These updates have been developed to enable operators to move more efficiently from signal detection to calibrated response, particularly in complex urban or regulatory-constrained environments.
DroneShield’s DroneSentry-C2, C2 Tactical and DroneSentry-C2 Enterprise platforms also receive updates as part of the Q2 release. Operators can now deploy using offline MBTiles maps, enabling operational capability in disconnected or bandwidth-limited environments such as expeditionary missions, border operations and remote infrastructure sites.
The release also introduces dedicated fixed-wing drone classification across VisionAI and SensorFusionAI. Additional updates include expanded support for radar and third-party sensors in C2 Tactical, on-the-move navigation upgrades with automatic map orientation, improved SMS alert formatting for critical communications, and Microsoft SSO integration for enterprise environments.
The Q2 2026 software release is available across DroneShield’s sensors and effectors and DroneSentry layered defence, with support for Android 10+ and ATAK CIV 5.6+ environments.
For more information
Image: RfDeviceManager introduces a redesigned interface. (DroneShield)