Waking up to the danger of drones

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The WSJ had a video showing the wake-up call in a Congressional meeting about the danger to U.S. homeland and military defense posed by drones. China is spending four times the amount on drone development as the U.S. Their unit cost is much lower. Plus they manufacture critical parts that the U.S. uses in our own drones.

Not to mention the danger to our concentrated military equipment by a Ukraine-style attack by a lesser threat such as Iran.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ukraine-drone-strike-russia-u-s-homeland-defense-8e2244b2?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

It’s about time that our military is waking up to the danger of cheap drones to our extremely expensive big-iron military.

Several companies manufacture military drones, including Northrop Grumman, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and BAE Systems. Additional companies involved in military drone production include Thales, AeroVironment, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and DJI.

Wendy

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Drones are not going to be the answer.

The problem for militaries solely reliant on drones for an advantage laser systems will be developed that can cheaply and easily knock them out with accuracy and at a distance.

In fact the Gold Dome and Iron Dome should give way to land and sea based laser systems.

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Several US corporations are developing and producing drone defense systems to counter drone threats. These systems range from electronic warfare to kinetic weapons, including lasers, nets, and missiles. For example, companies like Lockheed Martin and Lockheed Martin Corporation are involved in developing anti-drone technologies. The US military is also actively developing and fielding these technologies.

Here’s a more detailed look at some of the approaches and companies involved:

  1. Kinetic Weapons:
  • Lasers:

High-energy lasers can destroy drones by disabling their electronics or damaging their structure, according to Robin Radar Systems.

  • Misiles:

Surface-to-air missiles like the Coyote kinetic effector are effective against both single drone threats and swarms.

  • Nets:

Maverick Drone Systems produces the SKYNET Drone Defense System, which uses 12-gauge rounds to deploy a tethered web, effectively disabling drones.

  • Drone-to-Drone:

Some systems use drones themselves to fire nets or other projectiles at unwanted drones.

  1. Electronic Warfare:
  • Jammers: Systems that disrupt the radio frequencies used to control drones, forcing them to land or return to their origin.
  1. Companies Involved:

A major player in the defense industry, Lockheed Martin is involved in developing various anti-drone technologies.

Another key player in the defense sector, RTX Corporation also develops counter-drone solutions.

Develops and produces the SKYNET Drone Defense System, which uses a net-based approach.

Israel Aerospace Industries, QinetiQ Group plc, and THALES are also involved in the anti-drone market, according to Mordor Intelligence.

The US military is pursuing a “layered approach” to defending against drones, meaning they are developing and deploying a variety of capabilities to disable these systems. This includes both kinetic and electronic warfare approaches, according to Defense News.

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Maybe. Laser beams get weaker with distance, it’s inherent in the medium they travel through (air, moisture, etc.) They also have to be “aimed” which, for the moment, means mechanical linkages of some sort. Even if they could be rapidly moved, re-targeting 100 incoming targets within a minute or two would be difficult not impossible). You couldn’t shoot them from a far distance, as the laser beam fragments and would be less or im-potent.

So yeah, it’ll happen, but there are certain physical constraints and technological issues. Certainly it will be overcome, but it’s also not as though it’s a chip shot.

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You need to power the things. How big of a field generator will you need? vs an AA gun, that stores it’s energy in chemical form. Do those drones fly low, slow, and in a straight line? Give me enough ammo, and even I might be able to take one out.

Steve

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Agreed. Drones can cause damage and make life miserable. But nothing wins a war like troops occupying your territory.

One would hope our military industrial complex is less naieve than some imply. I would hope some have been advocating for better drone defenses since the first drones were launched.

This incident should send a message to the higher ups who seem to have their heads in the sand.

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  • Military-grade lasers are being developed to counter threats like drones and missiles.
    • Short-range systems: Some systems like the US LaWS have been tested against drones at a range of about 1 mile.
    • Higher-power systems: Some systems aim for ranges up to 10 miles.
    • Systems like Israel’s Iron Beam are designed to intercept rockets and UAVs at a range of up to 7 km (4.3 miles).
    • Ukraine’s Tryzub laser weapon is reported to be capable of downing targets from over two kilometers away.
    • India is developing the 300 kW “Surya” laser weapon with an operational range of 20 kilometers.
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Lasers sound inexpensive and easy to operate. We should use them where we can.

But we know their limitations. They don’t work in cloudy weather. And an obvious defense is a smoke screen. Primitive defense stops high tech cold.

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I don’t think any of your listed weapon systems would work all that well against a ground hugging AI drone swarm attack.

Wow. That is not a sentence I would have thought I would ever write a couple of years ago

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yeah I having doubts.

But this is interesting

Yes, radar can be used as a weapon to cause damage, especially at high power levels, by employing high-power microwave (HPM) technology.

How it works:

  • Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs): HPM weapons are a type of DEW that focuses electromagnetic energy, like radio waves, on a target to cause physical damage or disrupt systems.
  • High Power Microwaves: These weapons specifically utilize microwaves, which have longer wavelengths than lasers and millimeter waves, and can generate extremely high power outputs (e.g., over 100 megawatts).
  • Damage Mechanism: This concentrated microwave energy can heat biological tissue, leading to burns and potentially even death, especially in areas with limited blood flow like the eyes and t. It can also overload and damage electronic components, potentially disrupting or destroying critical systems like those in drones or other equipment.

Examples and Applications:

  • Active Denial System: This millimeter wave weapon, developed for riot control, uses the heating effect on skin to cause incapacitating pain, although there are concerns about potential eye damage and long-term health effects.
  • Vigilant Eagle: A ground-based airport defense system that uses high-frequency microwaves to disrupt missile guidance systems.
  • Bofors HPM Blackout: A high-power microwave weapon designed to disable electronic equipment, potentially including drone swarms.
  • AESA Radars: Some argue that AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars on fighter jets could potentially be used as DEWs, but limitations in antenna size, power, and field of view hinder their effectiveness against fast-moving targets like missiles.

Important Considerations:

  • High Power Levels: The damaging effects of radar are primarily associated with high-power systems, often found in military or industrial settings.
  • Safety Precautions: Due to the potential hazards, safety protocols and regulations are implemented in situations involving high-power radar to mitigate risks to personnel.
  • Ongoing Research: Research continues on both the effects of high-power microwaves and the development of DEWs.

It’s important to note that while the potential for harm exists, radar systems are typically designed to operate safely within established guidelines for human exposure.

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Drones!!!

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Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. I don’t care how many super duper laser guns you have, if those swarm at you some are going to get through. Depending on how they’re armed, you’re gonna be in for some hurt.

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Maybe EMP would stop them?

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