Counter-UAS News from Around the World
Avionics: DOD Demands Authority to Destroy Drones in Restricted Airspace
Privately owned drones routinely violate restricted airspace over military bases, ships and airfields. The Pentagon wants more authority to shoot them down, Defense Secretary James Mattis told lawmakers Wednesday. The military can disrupt or destroy small UAS over certain secure facilities with restricted airspace but has limited authority to shoot down drones over most of its facilities. The FAA limits what defenses the military can deploy against small drones because some systems pose a threat to manned commercial and civil aircraft.
Air Transport World: Drone ID in airspace a key concern, US lawmakers told
US lawmakers, grappling with the rapid proliferation of drones and how to safely integrate them into the commercial airspace, sought expert insight at a Senate hearing May 8.At a US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee hearing on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) integration, committee chairman Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) said a better understanding was needed of whether government organizations that are responsible for the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) were keeping pace with UAS technology.
UK Express: Royal wedding DRONE BAN: Queen gets no fly zone over Windsor on Harry and Meghan’s big day
THE Queen has had an official ban on drones being flown over her home at Windsor Castle on the day of Prince Harry’s wedding granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. She has won a Restriction of Flying Regulation which means that nobody can fly the unmanned aerial vehicles along her grandson’s royal carriage route in the town either.
LMT Online: Stadium and team owners see drones as major league threat
The Trump administration on Wednesday tapped 10 pilot projects, from mosquito control in Florida to food delivery in California, that it hopes will offer lessons for how to sharply expand drone use nationwide. But major league teams are increasingly anxious about the more than one million drones government officials estimate are already in use. They are asking Congress to give local law enforcement permission to seize or reroute drones flying over stadiums. And they are trying to get in a position to protect themselves.
UAS Vision: First UK Airport Trial of a Drone Surveillance System
A successful trial of a ground-breaking drone surveillance system has taken place at London Southend Airport last week. IPS combined with the METIS Aerospace SKYPERION technology to develop a suitable solution for integration into airports. This system not only spots drones much sooner than previously possible and allows them to be tracked, but it also identifies exactly where the operator is located (offering the possibility of them being apprehended), something which has previously been almost impossible.
Newswise: Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems in Urban Environments
New technology can provide advances in the way we do things, expanding areas previously left unexplored and simplifying previously burdensome tasks. This is true with advancements in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones. There are global efforts focusing on using drone technology to improve and support our everyday lives, and the commercial market is offering increasingly small, relatively inexpensive and capable drones. Given their rapid technology advancement and proliferation, the public safety and homeland security communities must address the fact that drones can be used nefariously or maliciously to hurt people, disrupt activities and damage infrastructure.
War on the Rocks: AIR SUPERIORITY UNDER 2000 FEET: LESSONS FROM WAGING DRONE WARFARE AGAINST ISIL
During my time in Mosul as a member of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division, a remarkably accessible and affordable device arrived on the battlefield. As my battalion helped Iraqi forces retake the city, we encountered some of the first small drones employed in modern conflict. Despite its clear military and technological superiority, the coalition to defeat ISIL in Iraq faltered in the face of devices that a 20-year-old with no formal military experience could easily obtain on Amazon. These cheap and easy-to-use devices, previously little more than toys, herald a democratization of technology on the battlefield that will change the way nations contend with adversaries.
Haaretz: Israel Enlists Amateur Drone Racers to Knock Down ‘Kite Bombs’ From Gaza
Israel has begun enlisting amateur drone racers to deal with the onslaught of burning kites being flown from Gaza into Israel, where they usually start brush fires. The hobbyist-operated run racer drones, which can reach speeds of up to 110 mph and were first deployed on Friday, either fly through the kites to shred them or down them with the help of fishhooks.
Defense Blog: MyDefence launches new WingMan series of wearable drone detection platforms
MyDefence has introduced its latest WingMan series of wearable drone detection platform – The WingMan 103 – the most advanced wearable drone detection solution available on the Counter UAS market, said in the announce of the company. According to the company, the WingMan 103 has been engineered to meet the requirements of elite forces, designed to be the wingman of its operator. With its ultra-light weight and rugged exterior, the WingMan 103 is the only truly wearable drone detection platform that can withstand extreme operational conditions.
CNN Video: Drone drops tear gas on protesters