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

The threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. From harassing airports and local police to trespassing over nuclear plants and prisons, drones are being used for a variety of nefarious purposes. But aside from shooting down the devices, which may create further danger, there's often not much anyone can do to stop drones when they pose a threat or wander where they're not welcome.

The concerns about the misuse of drones have spurred a technological scramble for ways to stop the devices in midair. "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. But they have become an increasing threat at home, too. And anti-drone systems now hold significant promise for airports, water treatment plants, military installations, and public events targeted by drones in recent years.

A New Era in Counter-Drone Technology

The rise in incidents involving unmanned aircraft has led to more research and investment into the most effective ways of countering drones. 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 drone is highly effective and relatively easy from a technical standpoint. But it's a blunt tool – jamming not just the drone's signal but other electromagnetic signals used by telephones, emergency responders, air traffic control, and the internet.

Kinetic defenses, which involve shooting a missile, bullet, net, or other projectile at the device to destroy or disable it, can be risky, however. By creating the threat that debris could fall on people or property, kinetic systems can pose significant risks to innocent bystanders. In 2022, for instance, 12 people were injured in Saudi Arabia when they were hit by debris after authorities took down a drone launched by Houthi rebels near the Yemen border.

D-Fend Solutions' EnforceAir: A New Standard in Anti-Drone Technology

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.

Like other anti-drone systems, D-Fend's product also detects any drones entering a predetermined area, allowing the operator to permit friendly devices to fly through while disabling others. In a demonstration of the technology in an empty athletic field in suburban Washington, the system quickly hijacked a drone operated by one of D-Fend'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. Landing the aircraft safely allows authorities to study the device – a critical benefit to law enforcement or national security investigations. It also allows the drone to be given back to its owner in the case of harmless mistakes involving hobbyists.

The Need for Greater Regulation

Anti-drone efforts could be moving closer to the mainstream, but before that can happen, federal laws must catch up to the threat. "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.

Smith, who oversees his department's use of drones, said any new federal rules should come with a public awareness campaign so hobbyists and commercial drone users understand the law and the responsibilities that come with it. "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.