Drone threats to civil aviation have become more complex in recent years, leaving regulators scrambling to recommend the most effective protection measures. Amateur drone operators violating airspace around airports continue to pose problems, but recent attacks mounted by Iranian surrogates—such as Houthi forces in Yemen mounting attacks in the Red Sea—have raised the stakes.
Major aerospace and defense groups have made significant investments in technology for deployment in combat scenarios and to protect commercial flights, using a mix of radar and sensor combinations. They include Lockheed Martin’s Morfius counter-drone-swarm interceptor system, the Thales EagleShield, Qinetiq’s Obsidian, Saab’s Girafe 1X radar system, and Leonardo UK’s FalconShield, which the company developed in response to the December 2018 incident that severely disrupted flights into London Gatwick Airport.
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