Mission Autonomy AI and SkyHawk Survey Solutions conduct Potomac River flight test to collect counter-UAS detection data.

Mission Autonomy AI (MAAI) conducted a flight test on the Potomac River near Quantico, Virginia, on November 1, 2026, in coordination with SkyHawk Survey Solutions. The test captured real-world flight data to support MAAI's work in detecting and tracking unmanned aircraft. MAAI builds autonomous systems and AI-driven decision making for defense.

SkyHawk Survey Solutions planned and ran the test scenarios and logged every pass. Commercial Group 1 unmanned aircraft flew the planned scenarios while video and flight-position data were recorded.

Real data matters. Detection technology is only as good as the conditions it is built and checked against. After the flights, the MAAI team processed the recorded data with its detection and tracking software and compared the output against the logged flight data.

“Good detection starts with good data from real flights, not simulation alone,” said Luke R. Trujillo, CTO and co-founder of Mission Autonomy AI. “SkyHawk Survey Solutions gave us a disciplined, well-documented test, and that is what makes the data useful.”

The flight builds on MAAI's AI and data fusion work across the Department of War.

SkyHawk Survey Solutions is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business based in Dumfries, Virginia. The company provides security and risk management support, drone vulnerability and risk assessments, and UAS operations and mission support, including aerial data collection and mission planning, for federal agencies, defense organizations, and commercial partners across Northern Virginia and the National Capital Region. SkyHawk also runs the SkyHawk Veteran Pathway Program for UAS workforce development. Learn more at www.skyhawksurveysolutions.com.

Mission Autonomy AI is a defense-focused AI company based in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Founded by engineers from leading defense autonomy programs, MAAI builds flight-ready autonomy, data fusion, and decision-support technology for the Department of War and national security community. Learn more at www.missionautonomy.ai.