Airbus Defence & Space (DS)Electronics & Border Security developed a system that detects illicit intrusions of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) flying over critical areas. The solution seen at the company's stand in Villepinte (MILIPOL 2015) encompasses fused sensors (SPEXER 500AR radar, NightOwl Z camera, SKYLARK 7050C direction finder) and countermeasures that can be employed over long distances. Guillaume Bayol, the company's Director Sales Security Sensors, did not provide exact figures, but it is believed that the system is able to identify a hostile drone and assess its threat potential at a range in excess of 7-8km.
The company provided details about the countermeasures, which include a jammer based on the Smart Responsive Jamming Technology also developed by Airbus DS. MT learned that its jamming signals can block only the relevant frequencies used to operate the air vehicle while other frequencies in the immediate vicinity remain operational. Based on a threat library and real-time analysis of control signals, the jamming device then interrupts the link between the drone and the pilot or its navigation. Thanks to the direction finder, which tracks the position of the pilot, he can then be subsequently approached and arrested.
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Airbus DS describes the solution as a, "quick-response," protection system with, "extremely low," false alarm rates. According to the company, the combination of sensor data (obtained from different operational sensors), data fusion, signal analysis, and jamming methodologies is the "ideal technology" to help close an important security gap, which not only affects military installations and airports but also nuclear facilities. Guillaume Bayol also confirmed that detention centres can be protected with the technology. According to the company, an operational counter-UAV system would be available from mid-2016, depending on the required configuration.
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| Airbus Defence & SpaceCounter-UAV System at MILIPOL 2015. (Photos: STN) |
The company provided details about the countermeasures, which include a jammer based on the Smart Responsive Jamming Technology also developed by Airbus DS. MT learned that its jamming signals can block only the relevant frequencies used to operate the air vehicle while other frequencies in the immediate vicinity remain operational. Based on a threat library and real-time analysis of control signals, the jamming device then interrupts the link between the drone and the pilot or its navigation. Thanks to the direction finder, which tracks the position of the pilot, he can then be subsequently approached and arrested.
Airbus DS describes the solution as a, "quick-response," protection system with, "extremely low," false alarm rates. According to the company, the combination of sensor data (obtained from different operational sensors), data fusion, signal analysis, and jamming methodologies is the "ideal technology" to help close an important security gap, which not only affects military installations and airports but also nuclear facilities. Guillaume Bayol also confirmed that detention centres can be protected with the technology. According to the company, an operational counter-UAV system would be available from mid-2016, depending on the required configuration.
Stefan Nitschke