Exclusive for newsletter subscribers:
Pulsejets: Will they see a revival in weaponized drones?
Counter-UAS News from Around the World
Defense IQ: Taking back the sky: Counter UAS
“The security threat posed by the misuse of commercially-available UAV technology has become a serious concern for the defence and intelligence world. A simple online search today presents a list of thousands of incidents involving improper drone flights, from near misses to crashes, with at least 3,456 such accounts being confirmed in 2016 – almost triple the number encountered in 2015.”
Motherboard: Russian Army Gets Specialized Drone-Hunters
“The Russian army has established a ground-based unit specializing in defeating enemy drones. The unit—the first of its kind in Russia—operates electronic jamming systems that, in theory, can sever the radio connections between unmanned aerial vehicles and their operators.”
Security Magazine: Drone Security Risks and How to Protect Against Them
“Commercial use of drones for tasks like surveillance and aerial photography/videography creates business efficiencies and new opportunities, but it’s important to understand drones’ inherent security risks and their potential impact on a company.”
The Verge: DJI’s new drone is unbelievably quiet
“DJI, the world’s most popular brand of consumer drones, is trying to do something about that. Its Mavic Pro Platinum, released back in August of this year, comes with a set of redesigned rotor blades that the company claims make the unit 60 percent quieter than the previous model. It tweaked the design of the blades by adding what’s known as a “raked wingtip.” The blades curve through the middle and angle back and up at the tip. To optimize for the new design, DJI also added electronic speed controllers that spin them at a different rate.”
UAS Vision: Dedrone Launches DroneTracker 3
“Dedrone has announced a next generation software upgrade, DroneTracker 3. DroneTracker is the industry’s first airspace security solution that includes automated summary reporting for instant diagnosis of drone airspace activity.”
Flying: Instant FAA Approval for Drone Operators
“Waiting three months for drone authorization from the FAA may soon become a nightmare of the past. Get ready for instant approval to fly in controlled U.S. airspace thanks to AirMap and the LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) program.”
The Advertiser: Adelaide company MySky Technologies has invented a drone to kill enemy drones
“Defence is increasingly worried about drones being used by terrorist group ISIS and in lone wolf attacks. MySky Technologies will pitch their solution to the Army in Canberra next week. The “drone killer” runs straight into the enemy drone at 250km/h, destroying it.”
Asharq Al-Awsat: Egypt Heading to Ban Drones to Prevent their Use in Terror Operations
“Egypt’s parliament will discuss on Monday a new law that bars the drones in the country as part of authorities’ effort to combat terrorism. The Defense and National Security committee will address a draft-law that bans the import, manufacturing, selling or possession of drones given that they have been used in terror plots. If approved, the law will sanction the possession of drones only after an official permit is obtained. Committee member MP Khaled Abou Taleb underlined the importance of the law because it organizes affairs linked to national security, He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new law imposes a punishment on anyone who possesses drones without official authorization.”
Warrior: U.S. Central Command Asks Army For New Counter-Drone Weapons
“”Theater has asked for a solution, so we are looking at what we can apply as an interim solution,” Col. John Lanier Ward, director Army Rapid Equipping Force, told Scout Warrior. The Army is accelerating development of new electronic warfare counter-drone technology to meet fast-emerging drone threats in combat. ISIS and other potential U.S. rivals have quickly made use of available commercial small drone technology for both reconnaissance and attacks. U.S. forces, in turn, are seeking more elaborate and effective counter-drone measures, and are looking to electronic warfare solutions to, among other things, destroy low-flying drones.”
The Telegraph: Immigrant stowaways hitch ride on RAF coach and end up on Reaper drone base
“Three illegal immigrants were held by police after stowing away on a bus only to find they were delivered to a high security RAF drone pilot base. The three unnamed men were held at RAF Waddington on Sunday as they jumped from their hiding place in a coach returning from a training exercise in France.”
Vancouver Sun: Drone bridge diving stunt in B.C. posted on YouTube
“A first person view drone dive off a B.C. bridge makes for spectacular internet footage, but may be illegal under Canadian law. In a video posted on YouTube, a group of American FPV (first person view) multi rotor pilots called Rotor Riot dive the drone down the side of the Alex Fraser Bridge. But the stunt flies in the face of Canada’s tough new drone laws introduced earlier this year.”
The West Australian: DroneShield raises $2.32m for anti-drone tech
“ASX-listed DroneShield has completed a $2.32 million capital raise as the high tech drone security firm looks to cement itself as a leader in the global “counter-drone” industry. DroneShield this week issued 11.61 million shares at an issue price of $0.20c per share to new and existing institutional, professional and sophisticated investors, all of whom were above water post placement with the stock touching 23.5c on the day.”
National Post: The drones among us: Reports of drone-related incidents are going up and up and up
“One afternoon in late June, an Albertan fired a shotgun at a drone. According to an aviation incident report, the RCMP found the drone operator was in the right thanks to a flight certificate, as well as video footage to back up the claim that the flying machine hadn’t crossed over the shooter’s property line. The drone didn’t fly again that day.”