The counter-drone industry is booming following the recent events at Gatwick Airport, whereby a drone or multiple drones (this is yet to be proven) shut down all air traffic at the airport for approximately 48 hours. Another alleged drone sighting also shut down Heathrow airport recently with the alleged pilot being charged this week.
Governments and private organizations are stocking up on technology to help safeguard against any threats. The global anti-drone market size is anticipated to reach USD 1.85 billion by 2024, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc. This number is certainly going to jump after recent incidents at Gatwick.
Some of these safeguards include the DroneGun Tactical, a portable, rifle-shaped jammer. It provides a safe countermeasure against a wide range of drone models. It allows for controlled management of drone payload such as explosives, with no damage to common drones models or the surrounding environment due to the drones generally responding via a vertical controlled landing on the spot, or returning back to the starting point (assisting to track the operator).
DroneGun Tactical
Effective coverage: Allows for an up to 1km coverage, in a wide range of environmental conditions
Fully Integrated: Battery powered single rifle style solution, one person operation
Easy to use: no technical training for set up or use required and highly portable design
Immediate video cease: immediately ceases video transmission back to the drone operator
Enables investigation: drone remains intact and available for forensic investigation
Additional Frequency Bands: Option to disrupt multiple RF frequency bands simultaneously (433MHz, 915MHz, 2.4GHz & 5.8GHz)
GNSS Disruption: Optional GNSS disruption capability (GPS, GLONASS)
Protected: Unit supplied packed in custom carbon fibre carry case.
SPECIFICATIONS:
DroneGun Specifications
Voltage: 14.8VDC
Effective Range: Up to 1km (1,094 yards)
Rifle Weight: 6.3kg (15lbs) (including 2 x batteries)
User Feedback: Visual + Optional Audio
Colour: Black
Effective Frequencies
433MHz (433.05 ~ 434.79 MHz)
915MHz (Option 1 – 902 ~ 928MHz) (Option 2 – 915 ~ 928MHz)
(optional) GNSS L2 (1227 ~ 1251) & GNSS L1 (1575 ~ 1605)
2.4GHz ISM (2400 ~ 2483.5GHz)
5.8GHz ISM (5725 ~ 5850GHz)
Battery Specifications
Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
NATO Military approved or commercial options available
Quick release and reload battery operation
Operating Time: 30min+
Environment
Operating temperature: -20 ºC to +55 °C (-4ºF to +131ºF)
Designed to IP54
Warranty
12 months from the date of shipment
Shipping
Ships in custom carbon fibre carry case (IP67)
Dimensions: 1422mm x 450mm x 203mm (56“ x 17 3/4“ x 8“)
Total Weight (including box packaging): 16.5kg (36.4 lbs)
Everyone is jumping in on drone protection
DroneGun Tactical has been successfully deployed globally since its launch in early 2018. DroneShield’s high profile recent deployments include, among others:
- a 70 unit order by a Middle Eastern Ministry of Defence
- a United States military trial
- an order from a Central American government security agency
- an order by the national security agency of a major Asian country
- an order from the major Middle Eastern telecom Zain
- an order for use by a Western governmental security agency
- a deployment of DroneShield’s drone detection system by the British military.
Are counter-drone companies taking advantage of these recently reported incidents? Absolutely, but can you blame them? Just like any type of business counter-drone companies are always going to seize an opportunity to make sales when an event such as Gatwick occurs.
Are drone incidents getting blown out of proportion?
Probably. There are always a lot of cases where drones were supposedly seen, but then investigations proved that a drone wasn’t to blame. There is no doubt drones are continuing to get a bad wrap, but that’s not to say that reputation isn’t warranted. Given the reasonably affordable price tag and the fact that they are basically a consumer product that anyone can buy, there is always going to be that one or two rotten apples who do the wrong thing and spoil it for everyone.
If you are a filmmaker and you use a drone, you really should speak up if you see someone doing the wrong thing with a drone. The more and more incidents that occur are only going to lead to stronger regulations and possibly drone bans by certain countries.
