New tech aims to take over enemy drones: Weapon of the Week

[Ryan Robertson]

IN THE MODERN BATTLESPACE, DRONES ARE BECOMING AS UBIQUITOUS AS ARMORED VEHICLES, FIGHTER JETS, AND AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. AN ESSENTIAL PIECE OF ANY MILITARY FORCE’S PLAN OF ACTION. 

WHILE DEFENSES AGAINST TRADITIONAL MEANS OF WARFARE ARE AS TRIED AND TESTED AS THE VEHICLES THEY AIM TO STOP, COUNTER-DRONE DEFENSE IS A NEW, BUT RAPIDLY EVOLVING, PIECE OF ANY MILITARY’S BATTLE PLAN. 

THAT’S WHY THE ENFORCE-AIR-2 FROM D-FEND SOLUTIONS IS OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK.

A QUICK SEARCH OF PRACTICALLY ANY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM WILL YIELD HUNDREDS OF CLIPS OF UKRAINE’S DRONE OPERATORS DEALING DEVASTATING DAMAGE ON TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT. 

IT’S THAT KIND OF DESTRUCTION THAT COUNTER-DRONE MANUFACTURERS ARE WORKING TO MITIGATE. ENTER D-FEND SOLUTIONS AND THE ENFORCE-AIR-2.

[Jeffrey Starr. CMO, D-Fend Solutions]

“What we’re known for is the actual RF cyber takeover. We’ll take over the drone. The drone now has a new master, if you will, and it’s landed safely in a pre designated zone and in a military environment where, of course, that is allowed and performed by qualified staff. “

[RYAN]

IT’S A NOVEL SOLUTION TO AN INCREASINGLY REAL PROBLEM. COUNTER-DRONE DEFENSES USUALLY FALL INTO ONE OF NINE CATEGORIES. 

EMP OR HPM TECHNOLOGY.

DIRECTIONAL JAMMERS.

GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SPOOFING.

HANDHELD JAMMERS.

KINETIC SOLUTIONS.

LASER BASED SYSTEMS.

OMNI-DIRECTIONAL JAMMERS.

RADIO FREQUENCY JAMMERS.

AND R-F CYBER-BASED TAKEOVER TECHNOLOGY. 

THAT’S WHAT THE ENFORCE-ARE-2 BRINGS TO THE TABLE. 

[Jeffrey]

“It’s based on a deep understanding of the communication protocols of the drone. So an unauthorized or hustle or low drone enters the protected area, we can immediately detect it, and we set off an alert at that point to all the operators, and then it moves into from that point on, we’re tracking it closely. We’re not tracking only the drone, but also the pilot and the takeoff position.”

[RYAN]

JEFFREY STARR, D-FEND SOLUTIONS C-M-O SAYS THIS TAKEOVER APPROACH NOT ONLY REDUCES OR ELIMINATES THE NUMBER OF LIMITATIONS FOUND IN EARLY COUNTER-DRONE TECHNOLOGY, IT OPENS A WINDOW INTO ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION.

[Jeffrey]

“We’re identifying what is this drone? What is the make, the model, the manufacture, the serial number, but more importantly, its capabilities to understand and is this friendly? Is this authorized, is this unauthorized? So you have this identification things, and then ultimately you move into mitigation.”

[RYAN]

STARR TELLS ‘WEAPONS AND WARFARE’ THIS APPROACH NOT ONLY PROTECTS  FRIENDLY FORCES, IT ADDS THE ABILITY TO GATHER INTEL ON ADVERSARIES. 

[Jeffrey]

“You can capture the drone. You can capture the intelligence associated with the drone too. And so obviously, you capture it very, very surgical, very precise. You don’t have the collateral damage, dangers, you don’t have the disruption dangers, you don’t have the operational disturbance. You, above all, have continuity. ”

[RYAN]

ANOTHER SELLING POINT OF THE ENFORCE-AIR-2, IS ADAPTABILITY. RANGING FROM TACTICAL, VEHICULAR, OR STATIONARY DEPLOYMENT. IT CAN EVEN OPERATE FROM A BACKPACK. 

[Jeffrey]

“The backpack version is our latest version. We’ll continue that, getting a smaller footprint and getting that portability. Otherwise it’s a never ending cat and mouse and leapfrog game. As new drone dangers emerge, we of course, have to overcome them.”

[RYAN]

ACCORDING TO STARR D-FEND SOLUTIONS IS OPERATING IN 27 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES PROVIDING COUNTER-DRONE PROTECTION IN DEFENSE, HOMELAND SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY’RE ALSO WORKING TO HELP PASS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES RIGHT HERE IN THE U-S.