Counter-UAS News from Around the World
Blitz: Miniature drones in the hands of Bangladeshi terrorists
According to Bangladesh law, anyone willing to possess a drone needs license issued from the appropriate authorities. This has been done to stop terrorist group, especially radical Islamic militancy groups from using a drone for any subversive activities. But, since May 2018, dozens of drones are landing into the hands of various militancy groups including Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) as well as Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). This miniature item named Drone 720X was invented by two German engineers. Although the drones are originally made to grab both video and still images from the sky, it is being used by JMB, AQIS etc in taking footages of sensitive and restricted zones and important figures around the country. It is also learnt this device has been smuggled into India and landing into the hands of various separatist groups and terror outfit.
You Tube: [Yemen Rebel Drone Observing Artillery Fire]
The Yemeni resistance forces, led by the Houthis, posted a video on Tuesday from one of their drones on the West Coast of the country, capturing the moments when their artillery hit several military bases of the Saudi Arabian Army in Yemeni territory.
You Tube: 360° Infrared Sensor SPYNEL: FAST DEPLOYMENT demo!
Forbes: The Drone Catcher: How A Michigan Robotics Lab Hopes To Keep The Skies Friendly
Mo Rastgaar, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University and director of the schools’ Human-Interactive Robotics lab (HIRoLab). As a part of his work in that lab – which is typically centered on innovative robotic prostheses – he’s developed a device called the “drone catcher.”
Roll Call: NFL Security Chief Backs Bipartisan Drone Defense Bill
The National Football League’s top security official on Thursday backed bipartisan legislation that would authorize the federal government to track, seize and destroy drones considered a threat to large, public gatherings. Cathy Lanier, the NFL’s senior vice president of security, described for the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee “a dramatic increase in the number of threats, incidents, and incursions by drones” at NFL stadiums, including an incident last year at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, when a drone dropped leaflets near one of the end zones.
State Scoop: California outlaws drone flights over prisons
For anyone who was unsure about the legality of using drones to carry drugs, mobile phones, weapons and other contraband into California’s prisons, Gov. Jerry Brown clarified things by signing legislation this week that outlawed such flights. Senate Bill 1355, which Brown signed Monday, states that operation of unmanned aerial vehicles over any correctional facility in the state is unlawful and punishable by a $500 fine, the maximum penalty for an infraction in California.
Jane’s 360: Russian REX-1 counter-UAV system breaks cover on exercise
Images from Russia’s major ‘Vostok 2018’ exercise on 13 September appear to show a production version of the REX-1 counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weapon in use by Russian Federation airborne troops. The REX-1 is a rifle-like, man-portable jammer developed by Kalashnikov Group subsidiary ZALA Aero Group and first seen at a Russian defence exhibition in 2017. It does not appear to have a kinetic kill mechanism, relying on the jammer’s ability to cut the UAV off from its operator, communications bearer, and autonomous navigation capability to neutralise the threat.
Army Recognition: DX Korea 2018: TD2S counter-drone 4×4 Tambora armored vehicle from Daeji
The South Korean Company Daeji unveils TD2S, a new anti-drone combat vehicle based on the Tambora 4×4 multi-purpose armored with different types of drone jammer equipment. The vehicle is equipped with innovative defense systems to create safe zone and to fight drones that could be used to perform terrorist attacks.
CNET: Drone assassins are cheap, deadly and available in your local store
You don’t need the military to pull off an attack of the drones. They’re capable of incredible destruction and now available to everyone.
PJ Media: DHS Terror Advisory Warns of Drone, Chemical Weapon Use Outside Combat Zones
The Department of Homeland Security reissued for the seventh time a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin, which makes note of terrorists’ potential to use drones and chemical attacks outside of the groups’ occupied territory and conflict zones. The NTAS Bulletin replaced in December 2015 the post-9/11 color-coded alert system. The higher levels of advisory in the NTAS system are Elevated Alert or Imminent Alert; neither have been used since the system went into effect.
Jane’s 360: New unmanned bomb boat found off Yemen
A new type of unmanned explosive-rigged boat has been discovered by pro-government forces off Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The Fifth Military Region, a command that includes the coastal province of Hajjah that neighbours Saudi Arabia, reported on 8 September that one of its naval patrols had chanced upon what it described as a “booby-trapped boat belonging to the Houthi militia” near Al-Fasht Island the previous day. Al-Fasht is 45 km west of the Hajjah coast.
The Firearm Blog: Russian PISHAL Anti-Drone Gun to be Sold Both in Military/LE and Civilian Markets
During the ARMY 2018 International Military-Technical Forum, a Russian company called “Avtomatika Concern” (a subsidiary of Rostec state corporation) has introduced an anti-UAV gun called “Pishal” (Пищаль – a Russian word meaning the very early hand cannons). Interestingly, this weapon system will be sold both in the military/LE and civilian markets.
Reuters: EU lawmakers call for global ban on ‘killer robots’
The European Union took a stance against “killer robots” on Wednesday when the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for an international ban on the development, production and use of weapons that kill without a human deciding to fire. Autonomous weapons are machines programmed to select and attack targets using artificial intelligence, without human control. Opponents fear they could become dangerous in a cyber-attack or as a result of a mistake in their programming.
Twitter: Drone Footage of a very large SVBIED
Comment: This was an impressive blast.
As Sensofusion continues to increase its worldwide user base with AIRFENCE, a counter-drone solution being used to protect armed forces, police, airports, prisons, and national guards, the company is unveiling its latest version. AIRFENCE 6.0 dramatically improves and upgrades Sensofusion’s capabilities to detect and safely negate dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations caused by rogue drones.
Janes: MBDA unveils Spectre combat UAV concept
MBDA in the United Kingdom has unveiled a new combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) concept designed to provide on-call, low-cost organic precision effects close air support for forward-deployed land forces. Spectre is a tilt wing, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) combat air system concept capable of quickly transitioning to forward flight mode for rapid traversal over complex terrain at low altitude.
Defense One: Retired Marine Four-Star Patents Jet-Killing Drone Boat
Two patents were recently awarded for concepts that just might change naval warfare: one is for a seagoing mothership for quadcopters designed to fake out enemy fighter pilots, while the other envisions a drone boat equipped to spot and shoot down enemy aircraft.