Overwatch Imaging exceeds 100 NM range in Autonomous Passive Vessel Detection

Automated Sensor Operator (ASO) enables real-time, automated vessel detection from 40,000 feet AGL at 400knots

Overwatch Imaging is excited to announce a milestone in the company’s mission to transform airborne intelligence through automation. During a long-range maritime monitoring operation earlier this month, multiple vessel detections were recorded at a range of greater than 100 nautical miles, representing a new frontier in passive, long-range maritime search and domain awareness. 

Unrivaled Coverage at Scale

The documented coverage rate for this flight profile was a staggering 115,000 nautical miles² per hour (40,000’ AGL traveling at 400 knots imaging at 5-meter GSD/resolution).

Automated 100+ NM vessel detection with MX-20 gimbal and Overwatch Imaging ASO software. After detecting the vessel, the operator tracked and interrogated the target at greater distance, far faster and more efficiently than what would have been possible with manual operation.

Conducted from an ISR aircraft at 40,000’ AGL traveling 400 knots, the mission utilized a L3Harris® WESCAM ™ MX-20 EO/IR gimbal equipped with Overwatch Imaging’s Automated Sensor Operator (ASO) software.

By automating sensor control, image analysis, and detection workflows, ASO enables rapid, systematic scanning of vast areas, ensuring complete coverage and analysis of every pixel of data, all in real-time with limited need for human engagement. 

During the mission, ASO autonomously detected, geo-located, tracked multiple vessels at ranges exceeding 100nm. This was achieved by leveraging the MX-20 gimbal’s high-zoom MWIR sensor, which effectively penetrated the haze and atmospheric interference typical of long-range imaging.

MWIR imagery cuts through the atmospheric and marine haze that can hamper long-range ISR missions. ASO's ability to image in EO and IR spectral bands simultaneously, and analyze both in real time, makes the system more effective at detecting objects at extreme ranges in variable conditions.

“This achievement demonstrates what’s possible when world-class imaging hardware meets next-generation onboard automation,” said Greg Davis, founder and CEO of Overwatch Imaging. “ASO delivers capabilities that go far beyond what human operators alone can achieve—especially at these altitudes, speeds, and ranges. It’s a force multiplier for any ISR mission, enabling faster decisions, broader coverage, and more precise intelligence with fewer demands on the crew.”

The milestone underscores the value of automation in modern ISR missions. With ASO, operators gain the ability to detect and track targets well beyond human limits —transforming high-altitude platforms into powerful, autonomous intelligence assets capable of covering more area, in less time, with greater precision.

“Our WESCAM MX-Series sensors are engineered for high-performance and reliability, enabling new technologies like ASO,” said Mike Spina, Global Business Development, L3Harris. “We are committed to delivering the best solutions to our customers around the world and ASO allows us to provide new capabilities to accomplish their critical missions.”

---

Unrivaled Coverage at Scale

The documented coverage rate for this flight profile was a staggering 115,000 nautical miles² per hour (40,000’ AGL traveling at 400 knots imaging at 5-meter GSD/resolution).

ASO systematically scans vast areas at high speed, requiring only a single image to detect objects in the coverage area. By dynamically leveraging the sensor’s high zoom capabilities, ASO dramatically increases the effective search area without sacrificing detection resolution, optimizing both wide-area coverage and object detection performance at extreme ranges.

This level of automated coverage far surpasses traditional operator-driven searches or static field-of-view systems, enabling fewer resources to monitor massive maritime regions without the need for constant operator engagement.

---

 Key ASO Capabilities:

• ASO steers the gimbal, controls zoom levels, manages step-stare scanning, and performs real-time image analysis—removing the burden from operators.

• Pixel-by-Pixel AI Analysis: ASO analyzes every frame in real time, scanning for object signatures and thermal anomalies that indicate vessel presence, even at extreme distances and in challenging environmental conditions.

• Real-time, geolocated intelligence: Detections are located and mapped with precision, enabling rapid cueing and direct interrogation of targets by humans in the loop.

• Systematic coverage: ASO autonomously controls sensor steering and zoom to optimize data collection and ensure thorough coverage of immense maritime regions, significantly expanding the operational search radius of sensor-equipped airborne platforms.