From AISC
Protective security blog EP Nexus and AISC teamed up to discuss drone threats for executive protection: Addressing Drone Threats & Countermeasures for Executive Protection Professionals
Counter-UAS News from Around the World
Los Angeles Times: Police using ‘drone killers’ to disable flying devices in emergency situations
“The search led officers to IXI Technology in Yorba Linda, a company that has been supplying high-tech electronic equipment to the U.S. military for 35 years, and a new device it released in 2017. The company agreed to donate one of the drone killers, worth about $30,000, and made a formal presentation to the Police Department at an Oceanside City Council meeting on March 28. “We are the first law enforcement agency in San Diego County to have this device,” Police Chief Frank McCoy said at the meeting. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department also has looked at anti-drone technology and acknowledges a need for the devices, sheriff’s Lt. Karen Stubkjaer said in an email. “We currently are not using this type of equipment, but have not ruled it out for future use,” she said. “Terrorist organizations are utilizing drones as well as organized narcotic groups. This type of technology may be important in the future to safeguard the county jails, courthouses and communities.”
Hawaii News Now: Hawaii airline pilots report pair of mid-air near misses with drones
“Two near misses with drones have rattled Hawaii airline pilots in recent weeks, and the Federal Aviation Administration confirms they’re concerned with the increased number of reported drone sightings nationwide. In 2015, the number of reported sightings was about 1,200. That number grew to about 1,800 in 2016, then increased again to about 2,200 in 2017. Just last week in Hawaii, there were two close encounters on the same day: Mokulele Airlines pilots filed reports with the FAA after two near misses with a drone during their approach into the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.”
Maui Now: Drone Sighting Reports from Pilots on the Rise, FAA Investigates
“Representatives with the Federal Aviation Administration say they are concerned with the number of drone sighting reports they have been receiving from pilots. “Although these reports are generally not possible to verify, there is a moderate upward trend in the numbers,” Ian Gregor, Communications Manager for the FAA Pacific Division told Maui Now in an email communication. According to Gregor, the safe integration of drones into the national airspace system is one of the FAA’s top priorities. The FAA reports that nationwide, pilot drone-sighting reports increased from about 1,200 in 2015 to 1,800 in 2016 and 2,200 in 2017.”
sUAS News: Hobbyist and Model Aircraft Should be Regulated by the FAA
“The Commercial Drone Alliance, an independent 501c6 non-profit led by key figures of the commercial drone industry, today is calling for Congress to repeal Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act (FMRA) of 2012. Legislation is necessary now to allow the FAA to properly regulate hobbyist drone operations under a revised Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.”
Digital Trends: Meet the HoneyBot, a decoy robot designed to trick hackers
“Bosses don’t usually approve of their employees roaming around, pretending to work. But that’s exactly what a new robot named the HoneyBot is designed to do. Developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the HoneyBot is a four-wheeled decoy robot designed to bait hackers, and then fool them into thinking they’ve successfully exploited a functional factory machine.”
Live Mint (India): How Islamic State changed global warfare
“In September last year, a coalition airstrike targeting IS (Islamic State or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) around the town of Mayadin in Syria killed Abu Salman, Abu Muadh al-Tunisi and Sajid Farooq Babar working with the terrorist group. All three men were involved in weaponizing commercial drones for Islamic State in order to offer game-changing aerial support in a then fast-expanding war in Syria. This was the first instance since the Sri Lankan civil war of a terrorist group looking to set up an air-wing, and this time it was much easier.”
Evening Standard: Terror from the skies: age of the jihadist drone has arrived, says US expert
“Britain must prepare to face the threat of Islamic State terrorists using drones to attack buildings and other landmark targets, a security expert will warn in a book published next month. Nicholas Grossman said that IS had already used drones packed with explosives in Syria and that no terror group had done more to exploit the new technology.”
“This is the moment an RAF drone hunted down an unmanned flying machine belonging to the Islamic State group and destroyed it with a Hellfire missile. The terrorist drone – used to spy on local forces – had been spotted north of Abu Kamal in the Euphrates valley of Syria on Thursday 8 March. Commanders tasked a Reaper aircraft controlled by a British pilot stationed thousands of miles away with blasting it. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the mission today as it detailed how the RAF has continued to wipe out Islamic State fighters across the war-ravaged country.”
Military Embedded Systems: Podcast: Deciphering the counter-UAV market
“Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones are proliferating beyond the battlefield into the commercial and consumer markets. However, many see them as more a threat than a benefit. As a result a market for counter-UAV technology has spun out and is growing fast. In this podcast with Mike Blades, Research Director, North America, for Frost & Sullivan, he discusses the two different markets for counter-UAV technology — commercial and defense — the types of solutions popular within each market, how the defense industry is developing counters for the counter-UAV solutions, and more.”
KTTS: Hackers using drones to commit crimes
“We see them everywhere. People are flying them all over the place, but there’s a more serious, nefarious side to what should just be fun. Hackers are turning drones into devices that steal our personal information. “It’s got a bunch of peripherals…to hack basically anything over the air,” Francis Brown, co-founder of Bishop Fox, said. Brown works to find holes in other companies’ security systems. He says drones are now taking the bad guys where they’re usually not allowed to go.”
The News & Observer: Drones are dropping contraband into prisons. NC is looking for ways to stop them.
“Though drone drops in prison yards are far from epidemic, they’ve caused enough trouble to give law enforcement pause, and facilities all over the world are investing in anti-drone technologies. Drops of drugs and cellphones have sparked prison riots in Ohio, and four drones have been sighted by North Carolina prisons, according to the state Department of Public Safety.”
Israel Hayom: Defense minister: Journalist who flew drone over IDF troops placed himself at risk
“Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Saturday that the riots on the border were “a terrorist parade in which Hamas operatives disguised as civilians attempted to harm Israeli citizens. This man – a cameraman or not – if you send drones to fly over Israeli troops you are placing yourself in danger. “We have seen dozens of cases in which Hamas used vehicles disguised as Red Crescent ambulances. They [Hamas operatives] also disguised themselves as journalists. We will not take any chances,” he said.”
South China Morning Post: Regulating drone use needs to take off
“Given the increasing popularity of drones and the safety implications that brings, the targeted regulation proposed by the Hong Kong government is not unreasonable. And the government should also closely monitor global developments on the issue to ensure our standards do not lag behind”
Radio Sweden: Military may get OK to shoot down drones
“Sweden’s armed forces may get the green light to shoot down unknown drones flying over military exercises or secure areas. That’s the suggestion from a government-backed report which says military personnel should be able to stop, shoo away, catch or even shoot down a drone if it’s unknown who’s flying it. Remotely controlled drones can be outfitted with cameras for spying or even weapons to attack. And that makes them a risk, says Margareta Bergström, who is leading the report due out next year. Bergström says ultimately the situation should dictate how the armed forces respond to an unauthorized drone. And, by using only the minimal amount of force necessary.”
The Japan Times: Illegal drone flights double in 2017 as awareness of regulations remains poor
“Police said Thursday they recorded 68 illegal drone flight incidents in 2017, almost double the previous year’s 36, at a time when delivery services and other businesses are looking to utilize unmanned aircraft. Authorities took action against 77 people, up from 37 the year before, the National Police Agency said, indicating a need to improve public awareness of regulations.”