Counter-UAS News from Around the World
Maduro Assassination Attempt?
The official line from the Venezuelan government is
- Two DJI Matrice 600 drones, each equipped with 1 kg of C-4
- One exploded above and in front of the Presidential reviewing stand and the other collided with an apartment building two blocks away, ultimately exploding and causing a fire
- The drones were meant to explode over and in front of President Maduro
- Seven soldiers were injured
- A counter-UAS system was used to knock one drone off course (the one that exploded)
- Six arrests have been made so far
- A little-known group called the National Movement of Soldiers in T-shirts is claiming responsibility.
There have already been some “false flag” calls with the conflicting information about the incident, holes in the storyline, the shadowy group claiming responsibility as well as the nature of Maduro’s regime. We’re going take the next few days to look at the incident and publish a quick look for next week. In the meantime, here’s a selection of the media coverage.
Agence France Press: Venezuela arrests ‘terrorists’ over Maduro attack as opposition fears reprisals
ABC News: Venezuela detains 6 in failed drone attack aimed at Maduro
The Aviationist: Video Allegedly Shows First Known Drone Attack on Head of State In Venezuela
UAS Vision: Drone Attack Targets Venezuelan President
Wired: THE EXPLOSIVE-CARRYING DRONES IN VENEZUELA WON’T BE THE LAST
Washington Post (Opinion): Drone attacks are essentially terrorism by joystick
Financial Times: Venezuelan drone attack claim revives security risk fears
Maduro Speech Video on You Tube
Apartment Building Fire on Twitter
Rupprecht Law: Drone Sprayers: Uses, Laws & Regulations, Tips to Save Money (2018)
This is a brief, but good run down legitimate spraying applications. If you’re interested in malicious use, talk to us.
Bloomberg Government: Dangerous Drones Could be Intercepted by Feds
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is weighing whether to attach a measure (S. 2836) to his FAA reauthorization bill (S. 1405; see BGOV Bill Summary) that would provide drone interception authority to DHS and DOJ, Bloomberg Government’s Shaun Courtney reported. The Senate might take up the FAA measure as soon as the week of Aug. 13.
Center for Nonproliferation Studies: Evaluating WMD Proliferation Risks at the Nexus of 3D Printing and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Communities
This report summarizes the analysis and findings of our research project entitled “Evaluating WMD Proliferation Risks at the Nexus of 3D Printing and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Communities.” Conducted by a team with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey’s (MIIS) James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), our project builds upon emerging literature in the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) nonproliferation field highlighting additive manufacturing (AM)—which includes 3D printing—as a potential proliferation risk.1 Specifically, our project analyzes a set of export-controlled items to understand the degree to which 3D printing might be used to produce—and thus represent a new pathway for proliferators to acquire—dual-use goods useful for the development of WMDs. Additionally, in the context of the widespread, global distribution of AM technology, the study considers the degree to which communities using and promoting 3D printing may impact the risk of WMD proliferation. This executive summary describes briefly our study’s methodology, the structure of this report, and most importantly, key findings and recommendations.
Note: Drones are addressed starting on Page A26
The Drive: Two Near-Misses at Ports of Jersey Airport Spark Concern About Drone Laws
Two near-misses between recreational drones and commercial aircraft descending at the Ports of Jersey Airport in the Channel Islands have sparked renewed concerns for regional drone laws and the potential for disaster, according to The Jersey Evening Post. Ports of Jersey Airport claim they’ve reported 20 incidents revolving around irresponsible or illegal drone use to the police in the past three years. The most recent incidents, one involving a commercial airliner and the other a large corporate jet, saw drones flying a mere few hundred meters from the planes as they descended onto the runway.
UAS Magazine: UAS attorneys advise against shooting down drones
They say the simple answer to the question about whether someone should shoot down a drone is “No.” In the podcast discussing the subject, Baxenberg explained, “It’s almost definitely a felony.” The penalty is a fine or up to 20 years in prison. Turner noted that it’s also illegal to jam drones, spoof them or use other electronic means to disrupt them or knock them out of the air.
C4ISRNet: US Army increases investment on counter-drone program
Leonardo DRS has received an additional $13 million to continue engineering and testing a vehicle-mounted system that the U.S. Army hopes will protect soldiers from small drones, according to a July 31 Defense Department statement. Leonardo was awarded an initial $16 million contract by the Army in July 2017 to develop a counter-UAV capability dubbed the Mobile Low, Slow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defense System, or MLIDS, with hopes of deploying “numerous production systems in early summer 2018.”
Business Wire: CACI Awarded $48.5 Million Contract to Deploy Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Platforms to Protect Vital National Security Assets
CACI International Inc announced that the Navy has awarded the company a $48.5 million single-award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide integration, installation, sustainment, and engineering services to the Naval Air Systems Command Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) AIRWorks Rapid Development Capabilities Integrated Product team. The one-year contract represents new and continuing work for CACI in its Intelligence Systems and Support market area.
Des Moines Register: Police searching for drone pilots after Iowa baby cut in the face
Cassandra Roberts brought her 1-year-old son to Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf as a fun way to pass the time July 24. Roberts of Davenport was visiting her mom who lives down the street from the park. The 24-year-old was sitting on the swings with her son, Atticus, when all of a sudden, she saw a drone fly over, hit the swing and strike him in the face around 11 a.m. When she examined his face, she saw he was bleeding and had cuts on his lips. Roberts brought him to Trinity Bettendorf Hospital where doctors gave him three stitches in his cheek and two in his lips, she said.
Rochester First.com: Orchard Park changes rules restricting drones at Bills games
There are new rules for drones in Orchard Park, just in time for Bills preseason. This comes after town officials realized their drone ordinance wouldn’t fly. The parking lot at One Bills Drive is empty now, but it won’t be for much longer. A new Bills season means new rules for fans and flying drones. “Please don’t fly them near the stadium or major events at the stadium,” said Patrick Keem, Orchard Park Town Supervisor. A drone can’t take off or land within 2 miles of a stadium event — 4 hours prior to and 4 hours after.