The Rise of UAVs and Counter-UAV Technology

摘要

Self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in Iraq has dramatically stepped up its use of UAVs to target its enemies, using them to drop grenades and lEDs, as well as surveillance and targeting. That IS would start using COTS drones was only a matter of time. The group ramped up its use of offensive UAVs in 2016, using small commercial aircraft initially for surveillance, including filming vehicle-born lEDs, and for directing rocket and mortar fire. In late January 2017, the terrorist group released a video showcasing its use of fixed wing drones for attack purposes, starting with the launch of a SKYWALKER X7/8 carrying a couple of lEDs and then cutting to nearly 20 attacks by UAVs dropping lEDs onto Iraqi security forces in Mosul. Most attacks were carried out by rotary wing aircraft (such as the DJI PHANTOM) dropping improvised 40mm grenades. In response, the Iraqi Federal Police around March became the first known government force to arm commercial drones by fitting 40mm grenades stabilised with shuttlecocks onto DJI MATRIC 100 quadcopters. These were used to launch attacks on IS positions in Mosul. With militants gaining experience in offensive UAV operations, it is only a matter of time before UAVs are used in attacks in the West. Attacks may take place without the use of explosives at all - if a small commercial UAV is flown into the path of an airliner, it could cause a serious accident. The market for UAVs has exploded, with military and commercial aircraft proliferating on a grand scale. However, it is the cheap, commercially available drones like the DJI PHANTOM that pose the greatest threat by terrorists. Such small aircraft can be ordered online for a relatively small amount of money and are hard to counter because they have very small radar cross sections, can fly underneath traditional radar detection zones and are hard to hit with direct fire weapons. With the proliferation of UAVs there has been a commensurate increase in C-UAV technologies. At the high end of the scale, Hensoldt offers a complete solution that includes a Spexer 500AC radar, NightOwl Z thermal imager and laser rangefinder, Skylark 7050C direction finder and VPJ-R6 jammer. The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) is another integrated counter-UAV system, bringing together a Blighter radar, Chess Dynamics control system and radio frequency jammer. It has been deployed in Iraq by the US and has also been selected by the FAA for evaluation at US airports as part of its Pathfinder Programme. Other companies in the C-UAV market include Leonardo offering its FALCON SHIELD, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) offering its DRONE GUARD UAV disruption system using X-band radars to detect targets. There are at least 20 C-UAV companies in the market today and one study estimated the C-UAV market was worth $2.48 billion in 2016. After detecting a UAV, through visual, radar, acoustic, or IR sensors, its operator can be located via a direction finder, the control signal can be hijacked, the UAV can be captured by another drone with a net or a hook, the video link can be jammed or the GPS jammed or spoofed to steer the UAV off course. Other options include using high energy lasers to disable drones (China offers such a C-UAV system and other countries including the US and South Korea are following suit), using a high powered electromagnetic field to overload its circuits, a water gun, net launcher (such as the SkyWall 100), and even birds of prey - the Netherlands has trained eagles to take down UAVs. DroneShield is one of many companies to offer a man-portable jammer (in this case the DroneGun).