Base Molecular Resonance Technologies (BMRT), a Florida-based developer of advanced molecular resonance-based detection technology, has announced a significant drone explosive detection advancement. The company successfully detected and tracked the nitrocellulose-based propellant contained within a single 9mm ammunition round attached to a small aerial drone during a controlled test event. BMRT says the detection held as the drone climbed beyond 200 feet in altitude, representing the maximum height evaluated during the test sequence.
The announcement comes as militaries around the world are confronting a rapidly growing threat from fiber optic-controlled drones and small explosive aerial payload systems that have become increasingly dominant in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These low-cost platforms carry explosives, grenades, shaped charges, and other lethal payloads while using physical tether connections that reduce their vulnerability to traditional electronic warfare, radio frequency jamming, and signal interception systems. BMRT, a 2026 Edison Award nominee, describes these platforms as one of the most operationally challenging developments in modern asymmetric warfare, and says the need for alternative detection methods has become urgent.
How BMRT Drone Explosive Detection Technology Works
BMRT’s Base Molecular Resonance (BMR) technology is engineered to identify the unique molecular resonance characteristics of specific materials and compounds. Unlike conventional systems that rely on radar, RF interception, thermal imaging, acoustic signatures, or visual identification, BMRT’s detection platform focuses on the direct identification of a target’s material composition rather than its physical presence or movement. During the controlled test, the drone operated within a monofilament tether-style configuration affixed to the ground, and detection was maintained throughout the climb to approximately 200 feet.
The test centered on detecting an exceptionally small explosive material signature on a moving aerial platform, which BMRT says distinguishes its approach from systems that focus on the drone airframe itself. This form of drone explosive detection differs from conventional drone detection methods that rely on radar or RF signals, which fiber optic tethered platforms are specifically designed to evade. BMRT’s technology platform has previously undergone multi-day testing in support of a U.S. Department of War Combatant Command, where it demonstrated detection across highly challenging operational conditions, including long-range scenarios, shielded and underground environments, and moving target situations.
“The Russia-Ukraine conflict has shown the world how rapidly drone warfare is evolving, particularly with the emergence of fiber optic-controlled systems capable of bypassing many traditional electronic warfare countermeasures. This demonstration represents far more than detecting a drone. We successfully detected and tracked an extraordinarily small explosive material signature attached to a moving aerial platform operating within a deployment configuration directly relevant to one of the fastest-evolving threats in modern warfare.” Robert “Bo” Short, Co-Founder & CEO, BMRT
BMRT Expanding Drone Threat Detection for Military Use
Fiber optic drone systems present a particular detection challenge because they communicate through physical cable connections rather than radio signals, making standard RF-based counter-drone tools largely ineffective against them. As these platforms spread across modern battlefields, BMRT argues that identifying the material composition of the payloads they carry opens a new avenue for battlefield awareness and force protection. The company says it sees potential applications across military, force protection, critical infrastructure security, and counter-drone operational environments as aerial threats continue to become smaller, faster, lower-signature, and increasingly difficult to detect through traditional means.
“Modern warfare is changing at an extraordinary pace. Having operated in combat environments where seconds matter, I believe BMRT’s ability to identify explosive material signatures associated with low-signature drone threats represent a significant advancement in future battlefield awareness and force protection.” Adam Jarvis, Senior Vice President of Government & Defense Programs, BMRT
BMRT is planning additional demonstrations of its drone explosive detection capability with government, military, and national security organizations following this test event. Lee Duke, BMRT Co-Founder and President, observed that adversaries worldwide are rapidly moving toward smaller, cheaper, and highly attritable aerial threats capable of delivering devastating payloads, and that the company’s demonstrations represent an important step toward fundamentally changing how future threats are detected, understood, and defended against. BMRT currently holds 20 patent assets and has received an independent intellectual property valuation covering 56 global use cases.
