Counter-UAS News from Around the World
You Tube: Tesla Fremont Factory Tent June 26
Comment: This video covers a controversial new production line at the Tesla factory in Fremont, CA. Tesla was making attempts to block line of sight into the new production line with covered fencing and trailers. These efforts coupled with the railyard behind the factory should have been enough to stop prying eyes on the ground, but it proved useless against a drone. The operator flew a DJI Mavic probably not more than 300 ft from the fence line, in the railyard. The operator used concealment of a railcar at the launch site as well as the fence and nearby foliage while airborne. Ultimately, the drone was detected by a couple of Tesla personnel. One person even threw an object at the drone. But, the drone escaped and all 51,607 viewers of this video so far are now looking at something Tesla didn’t want to share with the public and probably investors.
Defense Blog: New unit to counter UAV created in Russia Federation
The new anti-UAV unit is formed within the 74th Motorized Fusiliers Brigade of the Kemerovo Oblast Guard. The new unit, made up of 50 military personnel specialized in air defense and electronics systems, will use Borisoglebsk 2 as a base system, which is a multi-functional electronic warfare (EW) system mounted on a MT-LB armoured vehicle, developed by Sozvezdie during a period of six years, as of February 2015 has been manufactured and delivered by UIMC to the Russian armed forces. It is designed to interrupt communications and GPS systems by controlling four types of single-point interference units.
UAS Vision: PITBULL – A Wearable Counter UAS Jammer
MyDefence has launched PITBULL – the next generation wearable Counter UAS solution that utilizes smart jamming to defeat enemy drones. PITBULL was developed to have minimal impact on other signals while jamming, in an effort to maintain own communication. The Counter UAS jammer is a tactical solution weighing just 775 grams, designed to be worn on the uniform with the purpose of minimizing the cognitive load of dismounted soldiers, so they can focus on the mission instead.
The Drive: Hundreds of Drones Displayed at 2018 World Drone Congress and Shenzhen International UAV Expo
According to Xinhua News, 2.9 million hobby drones were manufactured in China last year, a national year over year increase of 67 percent. There are now more than 1,200 drone companies in the country, either developing unmanned aerial vehicles or the components required for drones. DJI is responsible for more than 70 percent of the world’s drone market, making Shenzhen the inarguable hub of drones and their production.
You Tube: Raytheon’s High-Energy Laser Weapon System Counters UAS Threats
Our high-energy laser weapon system has targeted, tracked and engaged multiple Class I drones and other targets from the back of a Polaris MRZR all-terrain vehicle.
UAS Vision: FAA Establishes Drone Restrictions Over Federal Prison
At the request of Federal security partners, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been using its existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) §99.7–“Special Security Instructions”–to address concerns about drone operations over national security sensitive facilities by establishing temporary Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) specific flight restrictions.
WTMJ Milwaukee: Too close for comfort: Dangerous drones invade protected airspace daily
Paul Walter learned to fly an airplane well before he was licensed to drive a car. Those decades of experience make Walter a cool customer in the air. Even on a day last September when a strange object over Milwaukee zipped past his Piper PA-39. “My wife says ‘look at that!’ And, boom we saw a large drone. It was off our wing about 50 feet,” Walter said. Walter had a dangerously close encounter with a drone. A big one too, flying much higher than he thought was possible at about 5,000 feet. That drone was also in the protected airspace around Mitchell International Airport. Walter’s first instinct was to warn other pilots, so he reported the drone to the tower at Mitchell.
UAS Weekly.com: Citadel Defense’s CUAS Technology Selected for Elite U.S. Air Force Innovation Development Program
Citadel Defense’s drone threat mitigation technology received significant third-party affirmation of its unique and combat theater-tested approach to Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAV). The San Diego-based firm was one of just 10 teams out of 180 original applicants to earn a coveted “Fusion Ticket” during the AFWERX Fusion Xperience in Las Vegas last week. This recognition, awarded by an esteemed panel of military security experts, will enable Citadel to receive sought-after U.S. Air Force coaching, funding and facility access to further develop and deploy its solutions.
Commercial UAV News: “Game of Drones” Winners Showcase the Importance of Anti-Drone Technology Evaluation Events
The “Game of Drones” outdoor demonstration that took place during the AFWERX Fusion event was notable for several reasons. The ThunderDrone outdoor demonstration that took place at Nellis Air Force Base not only provided a detailed look at what drone technology is capable of, but also demonstrated what kinds of security solutions are going to make sense with anti-drone technology. Predictions about the proliferation of anti-drone/counter-UAS solutions have come true in a big way this year, so it’s no surprise to see the topic take center stage at an event that brings together small business, entrepreneurs and academia to showcase innovative solutions for existing Air Force focus areas. This year, a big emphasis was placed on site security issues, which is part of the reason that initially, 93 counter-drone technology companies formed teams to be part of the competition. Eventually, this number was narrowed down through a series of three rapid prototyping events.
Defense Update: US Army To Get Mobile Air Defense Strykers by 2020
Facing a growing aerial threat from unmanned systems, rockets, artillery, and mortars, the U.S. Army is accelerating the fielding of an Interim, Mobile Short Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) system to complement the tactical formations of its Stryker brigades. Leonardo DRS, Inc. was selected to provide such IM-SHORAD Mission Equipment Package (MEP) for installation Stryker A1 vehicles. The package includes onboard radar system, a turreted weapon system mounting missiles, guns, and non-kinetic (jammers and Electronic attack) capabilities. This system will provide the “detect-identify-track-defeat” capability required to defeat UAS, rotary-wing and fixed-wing threats.
Kamikaze drones fired from bazooka-like launchers are helping the US military hunt down and destroy lethal enemy drones with deadly precision. The interceptor craft crash into drones to take them down mid-flight and may even carry an explosive charge to bolster their destructive power. They form part of a new weapon system presented at the Pentagon earlier this month that deals specifically with the threat of attacks using shop-bought drones. The system, which can be mounted to an off-road vehicle, also features advanced radar technology and a computer-powered machine-gun.
Belarus TVR: Independence Day Parade’s military machinery and people: Groza-S counter-UAV electronic warfare station
By Alexander Smirnov: In a special project of the TV News Agency dedicated to the Independence Day Parade’s military machinery and people, we get acquainted with a unique development of Belarus that no drone can beat. This is the Groza-S counter-UAV electronic warfare station. The self-propelled radio-electronic combat complex is designed to fight drones and any other threat from the air. At world exhibitions, the station had no equals among its competitors and confirmed the high status of Belarusian developers. The complex is designed in both military and “light” configurations. It is a reliable protector of the sky at mass events, as well as for strategic facilities, such as a nuclear power plant.
Yahoo: Drones buzzed French prison months before spectacular escape
Drones seen buzzing above a French prison months ago may have been on a reconnaissance mission ahead of the helicopter escape of a notorious French criminal — his second breakout in five years. France’s justice minister said Monday that several drones were spotted flying over Reau Prison south of Paris a few months ago. She speculated they were linked to the escape Sunday of career criminal and murder convict Redoine Faid. Heavily armed men landed a helicopter in a prison courtyard, used a grinding machine to break open the door of the visiting room where Faid was seeing his brother, and escorted the prisoner to freedom.
The Press Enterprise: Riverside pair who used drone to deliver drugs sentenced; get time behind bars
A Riverside man and his girlfriend, who used a drone to fly illegal drugs from their house to recipients in a parking lot, were each sentenced Monday to varying terms behind bars. Benjamin Paul Baldasarre, 40, and Ashley Lauren Carroll, 32, both pleaded guilty earlier this month to possession of drugs for sale, child endangerment and distribution of methamphetamine. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a separate possession charge and a misdemeanor count of having drug paraphernalia…Detectives initiated surveillance and observed a drone fly out of the backyard of the property to a nearby public parking lot, where a package was dropped from the remote-controlled aerial vehicle, Railsback said.
Republican Herald: Butler Township enacts drone rules
The flying of an unmanned aerial system or drone in Butler Township must be in accord with rules set by ordinance formally adopted by the supervisors at their Tuesday meeting. The supervisors decided to establish the rules after township residents “have made complaints to township officials and employees about drones flying over their properties at altitudes that cause them concern, inconvenience, annoyance and/or alarm,” according to the ordinance, which went into effect Sunday. The ordinance (2018-1) does not prohibit the use of drones, which are aircraft without a human pilot aboard controlled by an operator on the ground, but includes a list of prohibitions of their use for the welfare of township citizens, that define and prohibit disturbing the peace and prohibit the carrying on of offensive activities in the township.
The Drive: Colorado Lawmakers Want to Make It a Felony to Fly a Drone over a Wildfire
Interfering with police investigations, search and rescue operations, and firefighting efforts because you just can’t help yourself from flying a drone nearby is not only irresponsible and dangerous, but could potentially become a federal crime. According to The Denver Post, several Colorado lawmakers are trying to urge Congress to pass a bill that would make flying unmanned aerial vehicles over wildfires a felony. On Wednesday, Senators Cory Gardner (R-Colorado), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), and Representative Scott Tipton (R-Colorado) introduced the Securing Airspace For Emergency Responders Act, which would fine people for flying UAVs over wildfires without authorization, and potentially send them to jail for a year.
Radio Free Europe: Russia Says Shot Down Drones Near Syria Air Base
The Russian military says it has downed unidentified drones near its Hmeimim airbase in western Syria. Russian news agencies quoted an air base spokesman as saying on July 1 that all the drones involved were destroyed by antiaircraft weapons. The base was not damaged and no staff were injured during the incident, which occurred after dark on June 30, the spokesman said. It apparently was the latest reported attack by drones on the base that serves as the main hub for Russian operations in Syria. On May 22, the Russian military said it downed an unidentified drone approaching its Hmeimim air base.