diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index f1be687..ad6d3af 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ async function startServer() {
     // Always sync database in containerized environments or development
     // Check if tables exist before syncing
     try {
-      await sequelize.sync({ force: false, alter: false });
+      // Enable alter to add new columns like raw_payload
+      await sequelize.sync({ force: false, alter: true });
       console.log('Database synchronized.');
       
       // Seed database with initial data
diff --git a/server/migrations/20250910-add-raw-payload-fields.js b/server/migrations/20250910-add-raw-payload-fields.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..961e838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/migrations/20250910-add-raw-payload-fields.js
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+'use strict';
+
+module.exports = {
+  async up(queryInterface, Sequelize) {
+    // Add raw_payload column to drone_detections table
+    await queryInterface.addColumn('drone_detections', 'raw_payload', {
+      type: Sequelize.JSON,
+      allowNull: true,
+      comment: 'Complete raw payload received from detector (for debugging)'
+    });
+
+    // Add raw_payload column to heartbeats table
+    await queryInterface.addColumn('heartbeats', 'raw_payload', {
+      type: Sequelize.JSON,
+      allowNull: true,
+      comment: 'Complete raw payload received from detector (for debugging)'
+    });
+
+    console.log('✅ Added raw_payload fields to drone_detections and heartbeats tables');
+  },
+
+  async down(queryInterface, Sequelize) {
+    // Remove raw_payload column from drone_detections table
+    await queryInterface.removeColumn('drone_detections', 'raw_payload');
+
+    // Remove raw_payload column from heartbeats table
+    await queryInterface.removeColumn('heartbeats', 'raw_payload');
+
+    console.log('✅ Removed raw_payload fields from drone_detections and heartbeats tables');
+  }
+};