The increasing usage of small unmanned aerial vehicles is driving industry to respond with new technologies that work to protect infrastructure and people from potential UAV threats, Defense News reported Saturday.
Andrew Chuter writes that MBDA, Thales‘ subsidiary in the Netherlands and other companies have introduced new counter-UAV equipment at the recent Paris Air Show, indicating a potentially growing market for defense systems against micro and mini UAVs.
Featured technologies include ground surveillance radars, electro-optical and infrared imaging turrets, laser attack weapons, acoustic sensors, jamming systems and drone interceptors, the report said.
Some of the products are derived from existing technology and repurposed to meet the counter-UAV demand, Forecast International analyst Larry Dickerson told Defense News.
Chuter reports that concerns about the potential threat of small UAVs follow recent incidents such as the quadcopter crash near the White House and the increasing availability of cheap models.
The defense sector is also looking at new combat applications and capabilities with micro and mini UAVs, the report said.