A trio of specialist companies in the UK has launched a surveillance and radio frequency (RF) jamming-based system aimed at protecting critical national infrastructure (CNI), military bases and very important persons (VIPs) from threatening unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems unveiled the Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) to the media on 18 May in London. The solution integrates an electronic scanning radar; electro-optical camera; and RF jamming technology into a single package to detect, identify and disrupt UAVs which could be carrying weaponised payloads including improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The development follows multiple incidents involving unmanned systems over recent years including the landing of a UAV on top of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s residence in Tokyo (carrying traces of radioactive material); vertical take-off/landing (VTOL) UAV incursions over UK and French nuclear bases; and a quadcopter UAV which hovered within metres of German Chancellor Angela Merkel at an event in 2013.

Other incidents include dozens of high profile events which have seen UAVs interfering with aircraft at major international airports, including London’s Heathrow; and police helicopters in New York City.

“The threat is the small, hobbyist drones you can buy on the internet,” explained Blighter Systems CEO Mark Radford, while explaining how the AUDS solution is capable of detecting and neutralising UAVs.

The radar is a development of a ground surveillance radar, and a variant of the Blighter A400 Series Ku band electronic scanning air security radar which is currently deployed with the British military as well as London Heathrow Airport, as well with Republic of Korea government in the demilitarised zone. Capable of detecting a body crawling on the floor, the radar is capable of providing a 180-degree scan at a maximum range of 8km.

Provided by Chess Dynamics, an integrated electro-optic director, infrared and daylight cameras and target tracking software providing cooled thermal imaging (TI) and high-definition colour imagery with a high accuracy servo positioned for tracking capability. This includes automatic target detection and digital video tracker to maintain a lock on fast moving UAVs.

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