Drones have come a long way since their inception. From the days when they were used in different sectors for photography and agriculture to now when they are used by perpetrators to cause widespread security threats for establishments significant to national security, drones have become more malicious than you can think.
Although some UAVs can be harmless, when they are used with the intent to cause harm in restricted airspace, drone tech can be disastrous. But how do airports prevent unauthorized drones from endangering flights and passengers? This is where a counter UAV system comes into the picture.
Wondering how an anti-drone system for airports can prevent airspace intrusions? Well, here’s a guide!
Imagine the passengers at an airport, waiting for their flight, and suddenly everything comes to a standstill- flights are delayed, and planes are grounded. Why? Because an unauthorized drone was spotted near the runway. If you think this is just a scene out of imagination, try flipping through the pages of recent history and find out about how a drone paused all the operations at Heathrow Airport.
Unauthorized UAVs can interfere with airport operations in multiple ways. For one, a drone flying too close to an airplane during take-off or landing can cause a serious incident. Secondly, even when there is no collision, the presence of an unauthorized UAV can force air traffic controllers to halt operations, which calls for the pressing need for advanced anti-drone measures.
In case security personnel have no idea about how to build a multi-layered and rock-solid defense system for preventing drone intrusions, here are the core components they need to know about detection, identification, and mitigation-
Detection: This step involves spotting the drones. Airports can use sophisticated detection systems highly effective in detecting low-altitude, slow-moving drones—referred to as Low-Slow-Small (LSS) targets. The technology they use should be able to identify a drone from considerable distances and track it even in cluttered environments accurately.
Identification: Not all drones in the sky are threats; some may belong to authorized personnel. Once a drone is detected, it needs to be identified. This is where integrated cameras and other identification tools come in, and to do so airports can use visible and thermal cameras to get a clear visual of the drone.
Mitigation: Once an unauthorized drone is identified, the next step is to neutralize the threat. One of the most effective ways to do this is through drone jamming technology. Drone jammers are designed to disrupt the communication link between the drone and its operator by targeting key frequencies, including GPS and radio frequency signals. By doing so, the drone either returns to its home location or lands.
In case you are looking for top-notch technology to safeguard public safety and assets in an airport while protecting the flight staff, drone defender technology is the need of the hour. There have been countless incidents since the Gatwick Airport incident where drone intrusions have caused delays, unnecessary panic, and harm to airport infrastructure. However, with the use of solutions like a drone radar system and drone jamming device, the threat of unauthorized drones can be averted without any setbacks.