What's the Best Way to Detect and Destroy Drones?

The threat of drones has never been more pressing, with incidents reported across Europe in recent months. From Poland and Romania to Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, and Germany, the fear of unwanted drone sightings is on everyone's mind.

In response to this growing concern, companies like MyDefence are developing equipment that can jam and repel drones. "We've had a big surge of interest," says Dan Hermansen, CEO of MyDefence. "Up until early October, our main customers were defence firms and the military of NATO countries and Ukraine. However, lately, demand has grown from civilian customers." The small, box-like kit made by MyDefence is used primarily by the military of NATO countries and Ukraine, but it's now being sought after by big companies looking to protect their assets.

"It's coming from critical infrastructure," Hermansen explains. "We detect communication between the drone and its pilot, then break that connection by emitting a powerful radio signal on the same frequency." This allows the drone to be pushed away and has a controlled landing. If it tries to reconnect to a GPS signal, that can also be blocked.

Radio frequency jamming works against 80 to 90% of drones that are flown, according to Hermansen. While forcing an unwanted drone to crash land is a good result, it's essential to detect it first. "The first part is really about identification," explains Kasper Hallenborg, director of The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute at the University of Southern Denmark.

"And the second part is an interceptor system," adds Hallenborg. Identifying a drone is not easy. They can be very small or really big, and are often produced from materials like plastic or fabrics that are hard to detect on traditional radar," points out Andreas Graae, head of research at the Institute of Military Technology at the Danish Defence Academy.

A suite of technologies are under constant development to help find drones. This includes acoustic sensors that listen for the drone's buzzing; advanced optical cameras with very high resolution; and increasingly sophisticated tactical radars that work over longer ranges and can even differentiate between a drone or a bird.

Electronic Jamming: The New Frontier

Electronic jamming has leapt forward in recent years, thanks in large part to the war in Ukraine. "[Ukraine's] frontlines are totally jammed," says Graae. This means that drone controllers lose control of their machines.

"So, Russia and Ukraine have adapted by using drones controlled by fibre optic cables or using drones that can navigate autonomously or fly along pre-programmed routes." Such drones need to be intercepted or shot down and plenty of firms are working on novel ways to do that. Among them is Swedish start-up Nordic Air Defence.

Nordic Air Defence: The Low-Cost Interceptor

Nordic Air Defence is developing a low-cost interceptor designed to strike the targeted drone, forcing it to crash. "It's missile-shaped, so travels incredibly fast," says Jens Holzapfel, business director at Nordic Air Defence.

"It's incredibly easy to manufacture. It's basically 3D printed," adds Holzapfel. Cost is a critical factor in countering drones. Last month, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said: "It's unacceptable to shoot down drones costing one or two thousand dollars with missiles that may cost half a million or even a million dollars."

The Rise of Low-Cost Drones

Last month, Poland and Romania had their airspace breached by Russian drones. While separate drone incidents were reported in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, and Germany, the fear of low-cost drones is on everyone's mind.

"As hostile drones become cheaper, it puts pressure on the defender to manufacture low cost products," agrees Holzapfel. Low-cost drones are increasingly a security issue away from the frontlines of Ukraine.

Solutions for Civilian Sectors

In civilian settings, simply shooting down a drone might be too risky. "It could be rather dangerous," says Kasper Hallenborg, pointing to the falling parts and potentially flammable fuel.

"We saw the impact in Poland," he continues. "That was just drone fragments, which more or less removed the roof of a house." Early detection would help, says Hallenborg: "Then you can probably take it down somewhere it's more safe to do so."

The Traffic Management System

Critically, a traffic management system is urgently needed. This involves electronic license plates for each drone device and a way for users to register the flight in advance.

"Then we can quickly identify which drones are allowed to be there and those that aren't," says Hallenborg. "The [Danish] police have been overloaded with people telling them about what they've seen in the sky. A lot of these drones are probably there with a legitimate purpose," he adds.

The Future of Drone Detection and Defense

As the threat of drones continues to grow, it's clear that a comprehensive approach is needed. From electronic jamming to low-cost interceptors, solutions are being developed to counter this new security challenge.

"We're not just fighting against individual drones," says Holzapfel. "We're also dealing with entire networks of drones." The future of drone detection and defense will require collaboration between governments, industries, and civil society to develop innovative solutions that can keep pace with the evolving threat.