In a few short years, small unmanned aircraft have gone from novelty to ubiquity. They are inexpensive, capable and easy to operate, which has brought real benefits, and also created a genuinely new security challenge. Sites and events that were secure on the ground are not necessarily secure from the air.
Why drones changed the picture
- They bypass ground-based perimeters entirely
- They are cheap, widely available and easy to use
- They can carry cameras or payloads
- Numbers in the airspace continue to grow
The range of concern
Concerns span from the careless, a hobbyist straying over a sensitive site, to the deliberate, surveillance or worse. For airports, critical sites, events and sensitive facilities, the airspace above them has become part of the security problem for the first time.
A new dimension to address
Addressing the drone threat means extending awareness and protection into the airspace, as a deliberate part of overall security. It is an emerging field, and one that authorised organisations increasingly need to plan for.
Capabilities are shared confidentially, with authorised organisations only.