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Watch videos of the latest advances in anti-drone warfare

Companies and governments around the world have started developing anti-drone technologies. (Superstock)

The commercial drone industry is flourishing with a multitude of low-cost models becoming easily available to the public. Despite having legitimate applications in fields such as journalism, filmmaking and photography, concerns are also growing over the misuse of drones, giving way to a new international business: anti-drone defense.

A series of drone-related incidents across the globe have triggered widespread measures to hamper the misuse of the lightweight unmanned aircraft.

In April 2015, a drone, carrying radioactive sand and a smoke bomb, landed on the roof of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office. In January of the same year, a drone crashed to the grounds of the White House. Drones have also been reported flying over French nuclear power stations.These are but a few examples among the many incidents of drone misuse reported from around the world.

Drones can also be used to smuggle drugs and can be modified to carry explosives, firearms, or other damaging objects.

Galvanized by the potential threat of unmanned aerial vehicles to vital state infrastructure, commercial aviation and even military positions, companies and governments around the world have started developing anti-drone technologies, the most distinguished of which are listed below:

The “DroneCatcher”, developed by the Dutch company Delft Dynamics, is capable of capturing other drones in mid-air. It is equipped with an automated tracking system that allows it to catch weaker drones from above with a net.

The UK’s OpenWorks Engineering company has introduced SkyWall, a high-tech anti-drone Bazooka that shoots nets at drones.

 

Japanese police have started to integrate massive net-wielding interceptor drones into their security task forces. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are using specially-trained riot police units equipped with a drone carrying a two-by-three meter net and a camera for the unmanned crafts control. 

US Research Company Battelle has developed counter UAV beam rifle “Drone Defender” that works by jamming drones' communication signals to force them to land.

Dutch police have taken a slightly more low-tech approach to the security risk of drones by training eagles and hawks to intercept UAVs in flight.

 


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