The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs has grown rapidly due to advancement in technology and hence needs countermeasures. With the advancement in technology, the deployment of new counter drones (C-UAS) systems has emerged as a central issue for protection against UAV threats. In this article, the author discusses the current trends in the counter drones sector, including new technologies and approaches to counter UAV threats.
The Emergence of counter-drone systemsÂ
The advancement in drone technology and the falling costs of the technology due to the commercial application have seen the drones gain a much wider use in different areas such as military conflicts in areas like Ukraine and the Middle East. The use of off-the-shelf consumer drones and improvements in swarm technology have increased the threat levels, and thus require the use of advanced counter drone systems.
Current and future investments on defensive C-UAS systems are increasing rapidly especially in countries like Russia, China and the United States as they seek to outdo each other in drone technology. They are a clear indication that it is high time that C-UAS systems are designed to incorporate new threats.
Technologies that are defining the counter-drone systems Industry
1. GPS-Denied Operations
Another important trend in the counter-drone systems  space is that UAVs can fly in areas where GPS is unavailable. This capability also challenges conventional GNSS jamming strategies, thus requiring the use of PNT systems based on advanced technologies such as quantum radar. These advancements put pressure on the current C-UAS systems and bring new ideas to the detection and interdiction domain.
2. Kinetic Solutions
Tactical kinetic solutions still remain the foundation of C-UAS activities. This is because while traditional SAMs are useful for bringing down large UAVs, they are expensive for small drones. Less costly models such as the machine guns, cannons and collision drones are preferred largely due to their cost effectiveness. The new trends include the use of artificial intelligence in improving target acquisition, advanced fuses for proximity, and multiform RWS that can incorporate various effectors.
3. DEW systems: Directed Energy Weapons
High-energy lasers (HEL) and high-power microwave (HPM) weapons are emerging as the newcounter-drone systems . HEL systems provide pinpoint accuracy with cheap marginal costs per shot while HPM weapons destroy drones through interference with their electronics. These solutions are especially useful in countering drone swarms which could be dealt with severely using conventional kinetic approaches.
4. Swarm Countermeasures at a higher level
Swarm drones, flying in groups, on their own, and in coordination with other drones, are a challenge to C-UAS systems. DEWs are gaining popularity as the solution to counter swarms because they are area denial systems that can engage multiple targets. However, kinetic solutions are still applicable in smaller and less complicated swarm applications.
5. AI and Autonomous Operations
AI is entering UAV and counter-drone systems . Swarms of UAVs that are self-driven and self-controlled by artificial intelligence can maneuver away from projectiles that are fired at them making interception difficult. These intelligent UAVs have to be countered by C-UAS systems that will have to integrate sophisticated AI algorithms. AI also improves target identification, tracking, and engagement time, which are critical components of today’s C-UAS systems.
New Approaches to Detection and Prevention
Multi-Sensor Integration
The integration of radar, acoustic, and EO/IR systems improves C-UAS systems’ accuracy. This enables the operators to make better differentiation of actual threats posed by drones from false alarms which in turn increases efficiency of counter-drone systems  measures.
Countermeasure Resilience
New approaches to inertial and visual navigation have reduced the efficiency of the jamming strategy. Currently, C-UAS developers are looking for GNSS-independent solutions such as quantum radar to counter highly developed UAV equipment.
Flexible and Affordable Systems
Modularity has become common in counter drone systems due to the need to achieve a cost effective solution. Current and future C-UAS systems are being created as multi-mission systems, such as those offered by Electro Optic Systems (EOS) that can include kinetic and directed energy weapons depending on the threat. This is well illustrated by EOS’s Slinger counter-drone systems that use radar to track and destroy the targets with a 30mm cannon, which has both high lethality and reasonable cost.
Partnerships and Multi Collaborations
The development of counter drone solutions requires cooperation between technology suppliers. AI and RF sensing technology coupled with jamming and advanced weapon systems in a single C-UAS package enables a client-oriented approach, where each complete solution is designed based on the requirements of military and critical infrastructure clients.
Counter drone technology: current and future
One cannot help but notice that the threats of drone technology also change with time. The future of counter-drone systems is going to be based on integrated systems that use AI, kinetic solutions, and directed energy weapons. Through the acquisition of new technologies, countries will be able to develop adequate security systems that will be helpful in countering UAV threats with the aim of protecting valuable resources as well as stand out in the modern world warfare systems.
source:: army-technology.com
