Post-Drone Incident Continuity

The BBC reports that last month there were days’ worth of mysterious drones sightings over key sites in Sweden, including three nuclear sites and the royal palace.

That same month, a rogue drone and missile attack occurred in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the Associated Press, Iran-backed Houthi rebels caused serious destruction, including:

• 

  Several casualties and injured people

• A fire at an international airport
• A fire at a critical oil facility

Empowering Enterprise Drones

In D-Fend Solutions’ experience working with potential and existing clients around the globe to take control of the rogue drone threat, we have observed a pattern after drone attacks. Homeland security ministries may often move to limit or ban recreational drones, but still want enterprise drones – the foundation of the drone-powered society – to keep functioning.

Following the first major drone attack, the UAE’s Ministry of Interior announced a ban on recreational drones. A Gulf News Report notes that there are permitted exceptions:

“Entities that have work contracts or commercial or advertising projects that rely on filming using drones must communicate with the permit authorities to take the necessary exceptions and permits to carry out their work and projects during this period to avoid any consequences that affect the timing of these projects,” it said.

Those who disregard the latest guidance will be subject to legal liabilities, the ministry said.

Enabling Enterprise Drones

Different industries and organizations have come to rely on enterprise drones, making a complete, country-wide ban difficult.

To address this issue, security agencies in Sweden, the UAE (or anywhere) could      adopt counter-drone technologies that distinguish between authorized and unauthorized commercial/off-the-shelf drones. Such a solution would permit enterprise drones to continue executing their required tasks, even while unauthorized drones in the area are detected, mitigated and eventually landed in a safe area.

The ability to detect, locate and identify rogue commercial drones in the airspace, as well as remote ID capabilities, could help authorities optimize their situational awareness. They can obtain the ability to reintroduce commercial and off-the-shelf drones back into society, while maintaining control over sensitive airspace.