Abstract: In order to overcome the high computational complexity of the maximum likelihood(ML) detection algorithm in vertical Bell labs layered space-time(V-BLAST) system,an improved V-BLAST detection algorithm is proposed with the combination of the the sorted QR decomposition(SQRD) algorithm and ML detection algorithm.The proposed algorithm can reduce the search times and computational burden of the ML detection algorithm while avoid the interlayer interference and bit error diffusion,so it improves the system's error performance.Simulation results validate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed algorithm at last.