On Dec 2, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) summarized a major series of demonstrations evaluating kinetic C-UAS technologies.
The tests, conducted over three weeks in late July and early August at Camp Grafton, North Dakota, brought together government, industry, and academic partners to assess systems designed to deny and defeat malicious drones.
Collaborative Testing
The event featured participation from the University of North Dakota (UND) Research Institute for Autonomous Systems, UND Aerospace, the FAA-designated Northern Plains UAS Test Site, accessND, and the North Dakota National Guard. DHS Component partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Secret Service, also attended.
“Our analysis from these events is informing planning for future kinetic mitigation events that are focused on operational use cases and red-teaming,” said Andy Myers, S&T Project Manager. “The event was a true success and showcased the continued collaboration between S&T, the University of North Dakota, and our other partners.”
Advanced Mitigation Methods
Ten companies demonstrated capabilities across four categories: Global Navigation Satellite System jamming, handheld weapon-fired munitions, directed energy weapons, and drone-on-drone counter systems. A keynote demonstration featured the Epirus High Power Microwave system.
Myers highlighted the importance of tailoring solutions for domestic use:
“Keeping the public safe many times means that the systems and methodologies used by the military in a war zone are not going to be appropriate for us to use domestically or in a law enforcement situation.”
Addressing Drone Misuse
As legitimate drone use expands for tasks like power line inspections and crop dusting, the risk of misuse grows. Myers noted:
“There have been numerous widely reported incidents of drones flying into restricted airspace. These incursions include UAS flying over everything from major sports arenas (one even caused a game delay) to military installations where the ramifications could be far more serious. Occurrences such as these, as well as bad actors using drones for criminal purposes, illustrate why there is a continued and growing concern regarding inappropriate drone operations.”
The outcomes of these tests provide invaluable data to help DHS Components field mitigation systems compatible with diverse mission areas.
By working with partners across sectors, DHS S&T is advancing technologies that can engage and defeat nefarious drones while minimizing collateral damage.
Post Image Credit: UND
