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DARPA in Search After Effective Drone-Control

Aug 27, 2016

100714-N-3446M-080 SOUTH CHINA SEA (July 14, 2010) A BQM-74E drone is launched with jet assisted takeoff packs from the flight deck of the Military Sealift Command dry cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) for an air gunnery exercise, part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore 2010. In its 16th year, CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim McLendon/Released)

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The growth of the drone market has brought with it a host of innovations such as drone delivery, drone conference calls, and even Wi-Fi delivered by drone. However, drones have also caused quite a few disasters, created security risks, and have become weaponized for military use.

In an effort to protect against the threats that unmanned air systems (UAS) pose to military forces, the Pentagon research agency DARPA issued a Request for Information (RFI), asking for ideas and approaches to help improve protection. DARPA is looking for ways to defend against a variety of threats and tactics.
Jean-Charles Ledé, DARPA program manager: “DARPA is interested in identifying novel, flexible, and mobile layered defense systems and component technologies to address this increasingly important issue as well as conventional threats. We’re looking for scalable, modular, and affordable approaches that could be fielded within the next three to four years and could rapidly evolve with threat and tactical advancements”.

According to techrepublic.com, once the responses are received, DARPA will review them to determine their relevance to current systems, and the technology’s maturity. If DARPA is interested in a proposed solution, those who submitted it may be invited to a Mobile Force Protection workshop in Arlington, VA in September.
Unmanned aircrafts have been popular in government discourse as of late, with the White House recently detailing plans for further integrating drones into the daily lives of businesses and consumers. Additionally, the US government recently approved testing for medical delivery by drone as well.