Nets and High-Tech Hijackings: Anti-Drone Systems Offer New Ways to Counter Rising Threats

Washington D.C. - The rise of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has become a growing concern for governments, law enforcement agencies, and civilians alike. These cheap and easily modified drones have been used for various malicious purposes, including intelligence gathering, surveillance, sabotage, terrorism, and more.

"An adversary can use an off-the-shelf drone they bought for $500 and find out what's going on at U.S. nuclear weapons bases," said Zachary Kallenborn, a London-based national security consultant and expert on drone warfare. "China, Russia, Iran: If they're not doing it, they're stupid."

Military drones are already potent weapons of war, used to track enemy movements and deliver attacks. However, they have become an increasing threat at home, too. Anti-drone systems now hold significant promise for airports, water treatment plants, military installations, and public events targeted by drones in recent years.

The rise in incidents involving unmanned aircraft has led to more research and investment into the most effective ways of countering drones, preferably while preventing injuries to those below. Finding ways to counter drones safely has become a top priority for authorities.

Technological Scramble

Some systems work by firing a projectile to destroy it. Others jam the radio frequencies used to control the drones, causing them to land in place or fly back to their origin. Another approach uses other drones to fire nets at the offending devices. All the techniques have their strengths and weaknesses.

Jamming: A Blunt Tool

Jamming a drone is highly effective and relatively easy from a technical standpoint. However, it's a blunt tool that can also jam other electromagnetic signals used by telephones, emergency responders, air traffic control, and the internet.

Kinetic Defenses: A Risky Approach

Kinetic systems involve shooting a missile, bullet, net, or other projectile at the device to destroy or disable it. Kinetic systems can be risky, however, by creating the threat that debris could fall on people or property or that a missile fired at unmanned aircraft could miss and hit civilians instead.

Hacking: Taking Control

The Israeli firm D-Fend Solutions created a system it calls EnforceAir that allows the operator to hack into an adversarial drone and take over its controls. The equipment looks like a large computer router and can be set up on a tripod, vehicle, or carried in a backpack.

Demonstration of Technology

In a demonstration of the technology in an empty athletic field in suburban Washington, D-Fend's EnforceAir quickly hijacked a drone operated by one of the company's technicians as it entered an area being monitored. "We detect the drone, we take control and we land it," said Jeffrey Starr, the company's chief marketing officer.

Limitations

Anti-drone systems that involve hacking the invading aircraft may not work on military drones, however, as they come equipped with greater cyberdefenses.

National Security Experts Predict a New Era of Countermeasures

National security experts predict that a variety of techniques to counter drones could soon become commonplace, used to protect sensitive buildings, pipelines, ports, and public areas. However, before that can happen, federal laws must catch up to the threat.

Need for Greater Regulation

"Most of the laws we're dealing with were written for manned aviation," said DJ Smith, senior technical surveillance agent with the Virginia State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigations. "Any new federal rules should come with a public awareness campaign so hobbyists and commercial drone users understand the law and the responsibilities of using a drone."

Authorities also need greater powers to use systems to track suspicious drones, he said, and take action against them when they pose a threat.

Legislation on the Horizon

"It is paramount that our state and local law enforcement agencies are able to be granted the proper authority to protect citizens at large events and gatherings," said Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican and a sponsor of legislation designed to make it easier for local authorities to use technology to counter drones at large public events.

The bill, introduced this month, would give local law enforcement the ability to use anti-drone systems that have been approved by the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other agencies.