New sensors designed to detect unmanned air systems and weapon systems aimed at shooting them down will force UAS manufacturers to make their products harder to destroy, Israeli sources say.
Russia has already embarked on an effort to develop radar systems capable of detecting even small UAS, and Israeli sources say the technology's potential spread means methods of protecting current and future air vehicles will be required.
No specific details about such an effort have emerged yet, but it seems likely that future large UAS will be required to carry more electronic countermeasures equipment. For smaller systems, another option would be to operate "swarms" of aircraft to enable some to penetrate a defended area.
"The proliferation of UAS in the world and the increasing variety of missions they perform has brought an effort to handle the threat as if it is a manned aerial platform," one source notes.
Source: Flight International
