Official Guidance

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published a manual in 2021 to help airports tackle the growing drone threat. The manual offers recommendations on what to do before, during, and after a drone incident.

The recommendations are aimed at both large municipal airports and small aerodromes that may not have the resources to develop an extensive counter-drone strategy.

Before an Incident

Security and operations teams should work with relevant aviation and law enforcement authorities to establish appropriate restrictions against unauthorised drone activity around their aerodrome. This includes clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each actor when responding to drone incidents.

At the local level, the EASA recommends collaborating with air traffic control and law enforcement agencies to:

• Build a drone sighting reporting mechanism

• Develop incident response protocols and procedures

• Create a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the role of each party in the event of an incident

Lastly, identify the detection and mitigation solutions you need to protect your airport from rogue drones.

During an Incident

Upon receiving a drone sighting report, you should work with relevant authorities to determine if the report is credible enough to declare a drone incident. This should be based on the information gathering, verification, and communication methods you’ve already agreed upon.

If the threat is genuine, perform a threat assessment to determine its nature and severity. Air traffic control and security forces use this information to determine the appropriate response measures to ensure the safety of aircraft at and around your aerodrome.

Post Incident

As soon as the dust has settled, you must prepare the appropriate documents and reports for the relevant authorities. The information contained in these documents helps you conduct a thorough analysis of the incident. You can then review your countermeasures and response procedures to ensure you’re better equipped to deal with similar incidents in the future.

Law enforcement agencies will also need to gather evidence to support the criminal investigation into the incident.

Robin Radar’s Take on Drone Incident Management Guidance

EASA guidance demonstrates the need for a clear, operational framework to manage drone threats at airports. Drone detection and mitigation technology is only part of the puzzle. Aviation and law enforcement authorities at both the national and local level must work together to minimise the risks posed by drones.

We work with airport management to integrate with existing safety and security systems, as well as additional counter-drone equipment, to find the best fit for your operations.

Four Common Drone Detection Challenges

1. Distinguishing Between Birds and Drones

Traditional radar systems are designed to identify objects with large radar cross-sections (RCS), like piloted aircraft. Few systems can detect small, fast-moving objects. And even if they can, distinguishing between drones and birds is beyond the capabilities of all but the most advanced micro-Doppler systems. Accurate classification reduces false alarms and prevents ground teams from wasting time responding to non-existent threats.

2. Understanding Intent

From delivering parcels to fighting fires – drones have many commercial applications. This poses an additional problem for airport security teams: how do you distinguish friend from foe? The inquest into the Gatwick airport incident of 2018 suggested that some of the reported drone sightings were actually police drones sent to investigate the incident. An effective drone detection system must quickly determine the intent of potential drone threats to help security teams plan their response.

3. Autonomous Drones

A common safety feature of consumer drones is the return to home function. Should something go wrong mid-flight, like losing the controller signal, the drone heads back to its registered home location.

Some models take this technology to the next level by letting operators pre-programme their drones to follow a specific route. There’s no real-time radio communication between the drone and its controller, rendering it invisible to traditional drone detection methods, like radio frequency (RF) analysers.

4. Drone Swarms

Incidents and attacks involving a large concentration of drones is a growing problem in both the civil and military sectors. So much so that the US military has started simulating drone swarm attacks to prepare troops.

Tracking individual drones in a drone swarm also remains a serious challenge for airport security teams. Luxury car brand Genesis broke the world record for the most simultaneous airborne drones in 2021 when it launched a swarm of 3,281 drones to celebrate the company’s entry into the Chinese market. But even a swarm of a few dozen drones can overwhelm traditional radar systems.

Drone Detection Solutions for Civil Aviation

Preventing drone incidents requires 24/7, 360° coverage across your airport. This provides ground teams with the early warning and full situational awareness they need to respond to threats.

The composition of your drone detection solution will depend on your circumstances. But in general, it should be able to:

• Accurately detect drone activity over a wide area (at least 3km)

• Locate and track threats in real time and in any conditions

• Distinguish between drones and birds

• Track multiple fast-moving targets simultaneously

• Detect autonomous drones

No one drone detection solution can do all this. Effective and reliable drone detection requires the right blend of passive and active drone detection solutions.

Cameras

High-definition camera systems can provide accurate imaging over a wide area. Typically installed around the perimeter of your airport, cameras work in tandem with drone radar to help you monitor drone threats.

Advanced systems use infrared and thermal imaging to provide accurate drone detection in low light and adverse weather conditions, which standard camera systems typically struggle with.

Acoustic Sensors

Acoustic sensors (microphones) detect the sound drones emit during flight and use that information to calculate the direction of travel. Operators usually deploy acoustic sensors as an array to increase detection range and efficacy.

Unlike radio-based detection methods, acoustic sensors can detect any drone that operates in the near-field – including autonomous drones. However, most acoustic sensors have a maximum effective range of just 300-500m and typically struggle in noisy environments.

Radio Frequency Analysers

Radio frequency (RF) analysers come in two flavours:

1. Direction finders

2. RF signal decoders

Direction finders use multiple antennas to detect the radio signal that travels between a drone and its control unit. The onboard processer then analyses the signal’s RF spectrum to identify the make and model of the drone. More advanced systems can even pinpoint the drone’s MAC address – if it uses Wi-Fi for communication.

RF signal decoders collect information about the location of the drone and its pilot directly from the drone’s system data.

Radio frequency analysers are cost-effective and, because they’re passive, you don’t need a license to operate them. However, RF analysers have a limited detection range and are less effective in areas with a lot of radio traffic. Additionally, some RF analysers can’t locate and track drones or identify autonomous drones.

Radar

Specialist drone radar provides long-range detection, classification, and tracking of drone activity. Drone radars operate on the same principle as traditional radar. The radar emits a signal and listens for the tell-tale ‘echo’ when it encounters an object to pinpoint its position and direction of travel.

Drone radars detect and track drones over a larger area than other drone detection systems, like cameras and RF analysers. Crucially, they provide long-range tracking in a range of conditions, track hundreds of drones simultaneously, and detect autonomous drones. Advanced systems can even differentiate between birds and drones for reliable classification.

Market-Leading Drone Detection from Robin Radar

IRIS

Boasting 360° azimuth coverage and 60° elevation, IRIS provides unparalleled drone detection and monitoring for airports of any size. Our state-of-the-art, micro-Doppler radar accurately tracks drone activity in any conditions, including heavy rain, fog, and at night – giving ground teams advanced warning of approaching threats.

IRIS Specs

• FMCW

• X-Band (8900-9650 MHz)

• 2x 12W power output

• 30rpm scan speed

• 5-10km instrumented range

• 360° azimuth

• 60-deg elevation coverage

• Micro-Doppler

Full 3D Drone Tracking

When the stakes are high, every second counts. IRIS tracks drones in full 3D. This gives your ground teams accurate height information for fast detection and effective mitigation.

Powerful Drone Detection in a Lightweight Package

Today’s drone threat requires small and lightweight drone radars that don’t compromise detection range and coverage. Most radars can only do one or the other. Not IRIS. The lightweight, Mil-Std Certified design makes IRIS easy to deploy and redeploy as you require, while best-in-class detection range defends your airport against threats from any direction.

Fast and Accurate Threat Classification

As a micro-Doppler radar, IRIS quickly distinguishes between drones and other airborne threats, like birds. IRIS can also detect hovering and autonomous drones that traditional radar systems struggle to see.

Multi-Target Tracking

Drone swarms are a growing threat to commercial airports. IRIS can detect and track hundreds of drones at the same time, giving you a complete picture of your threat landscape.

ELVIRA

ELVIRA combines smart software with affordable drone radar to provide accurate drone detection year-round. Unlike traditional radars that emit radio waves in controlled bursts, ELVIRA sends a continuous signal to track airborne threats 24/7.

ELVIRA Specs

• FMCW Solid State

• X-Band (8700-9650 MHz)

• 4W power output

• 1.3s update rate

• 5-10km instrumented range

• 360° azimuth

• 10-deg elevation coverage

• Micro-Doppler

Automatic Threat Classification

ELVIRA is a micro-Doppler radar built specifically for drone detection. By harnessing automation, ELVIRA instantly classifies airborne threats, distinguishing between birds and drones to reduce false alarms.

Drone Tracking

Many drones allow operators to pre-programme craft for autonomous flight. ELVIRA’s micro-Doppler technology can detect and track hovering and autonomous drones for complete visibility. It can also monitor multiple targets at the same time to help you protect your airport against drone swarms.

Straightforward Integration

ELVIRA integrates seamlessly with proprietary and third-party security and C2 systems. You can also equip ELVIRA with a high-resolution pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera for precision imaging.

Examples of the Global Drone Threat

Drone Mitigation Solutions for Civil Aviation

Drone mitigation solutions work alongside detection systems to neutralise confirmed airborne threats. This can be by:

1. Switching off the drone mid-flight

2. Taking control of and redirecting the drone

3. Destroying the drone

Most countries have strict regulations in place to control the use of drone mitigation systems outside of military and security contexts. However, that might change as the threat increases and mitigation technology evolves.

Nets & Guns

Drone mitigation solutions don’t have to be high-tech to be effective. Most drones use propellers. Firing or otherwise bringing a net into contact with a drone’s rotor blades remains one of simplest ways to neutralise drone threats. There are three main delivery methods:

1. Ground-based net cannons

2. Drone-mounted net cannons

3. Hanging nets deployed by ‘net drones’

Drone-mounted cannons overcome the range limitations of ground-based net cannons. Net drones are the best option for capturing rogue drones intact.

Birds of Prey

Eagles and other birds of prey are natural hunters. With the right training, you can harness their predatory instincts to teach them to intercept and capture drones.

Training birds to hunt drones requires a considerable investment of time and effort. Each bird needs at least a year of training before it’s ready for action, making it less scalable than other solutions on this list. Additionally, birds of prey can be a hazard in their own right at airports.

Radio Frequency Jammers

Radio frequency (RF) jammers work by transmitting a concentrated burst of radio energy towards the target drone. This masks its control signal, resulting in one of four scenarios:

1. The drone makes a controlled landing in its current position

2. The drone returns to its pre-selected home location

3. The drone falls uncontrolled to the ground

4. The drone flies off in a random direction

RF jammers come in a range of shapes and sizes. This includes mobile, handheld, and static units. Before investing in an RF jammer, bear in mind that it can interfere with other radio communications and cause targets to act unpredictably.

GPS Spoofers

GPS spoofers replace the drone’s communication signal, allowing security teams to assume control of the drone. They can then direct the drone to a safe zone, making it a more predictable option than an RF jammer. GPS spoofers are only effective over a short range, however. And like RF jammers, GPS spoofers can affect nearby radio communications, causing disruption and collateral damage.

High-Powered Microwaves

High-powered microwave (HPM) devices generate a powerful electromagnetic pulse that disrupts and destroys the target’s onboard electronics. Some HPM devices use antennas to focus the pulse, which helps to minimise collateral damage.

HPM devices are among the most expensive drone mitigation solutions on the market. They also pose a security risk to people and equipment below the drone as it falls out of the sky.

High-Powered Optical Devices

High-powered optical devices use a concentrated beam of light, aka a laser beam, to destroy the target’s external structure and internal electronics. While this is extremely effective at bringing drones to a stop, there’s a high risk of collateral damage. High-powered optical devices are also at the more expensive end of the drone countermeasure spectrum.

Integrating Drone Detection & Mitigation Solutions

No one detection or mitigation solution is a silver bullet. An effective counter-drone strategy combines detection and mitigation solutions to provide the best coverage. Finding the right blend of solutions will depend on your requirements. The key is that they work together to provide the coverage you need.

We work with world-class integrators to take care of the heavy lifting for you. This spares you the hassle of managing multiple vendors and solutions and ensures you have all the information you need to defend against the rising drone threat.

About Robin Radar Systems

Specialising in radar detection for birds and drones, our drone radars provide you with actionable intelligence on drone activity in and around your airport. Our solutions allow you to take control of your airspace, with a low-cost monthly fee instead of a large capital expenditure.

With KPIs aligned to real-time, 24/7 monitoring of drone activity, such as perimeter crossings and drone presence in and around take-off and landing areas, you can reduce the risk of drone-related safety incidents.