When UAVs Become A Threat

When UAVs Become A Threat

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The growing availability of small, inexpensive UAVs that can (and are) used by criminals and Islamic terrorists has led to the development of several Anti-UAV Defense Systems (AUDS). These systems consist of multiple sensors (visual, heat, radar) to detect the small UAVs and a focused radio signal jammer to cut the UAV off from its controller and prevent (in most cases) the UAV from completing its mission. The detection range of AUDS is usually 10 kilometers or more and jamming range varies from a few kilometers to about eight.

AUDS can be defeated. For example a user can send a small UAV off on a pre-programmed mission. This can be to take photos or deliver a small explosive. No one has tried, at least successfully, using armed micro-UAVs yet but North Korea has been caught using small recon UAVs flying under automatic control.

If these UAVs are still detected they have to be destroyed via ground or air-to-air fire. This the Israelis have had to do several times. Israel has been dealing with Palestinian Islamic terrorist groups using small UAVs, often Iranian models. Israel has responded by adding more sensor systems, especially new radars that can detect the smallest UAVs moving at any speed and altitude. Israel’s drone industry is massive for such a small country. There is no serious competition from any country besides the United States in the field of UAVs, and it should only be fitting that the same hold true for Anti-UAV defense systems.

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