Drone ray gun gets FAA approval to take out drones at airports
Drones are increasingly being used by criminals and terrorists to disrupt and destroy high value targets so security services around the world are now in an arms race to make sure they stay one step ahead of the threat.
Key takeaways
- The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) was granted granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be tested in a bid to prevent drones hitting planes - or worse.
- The FAA's trial will last for six months and at the end of it the aviation authority will decide whether or not to roll these systems out to more airports around the country.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Drone ray gun gets FAA approval to take out drones at airports', 311 Institute, 29 November. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/drone-ray-gun-gets-faa-approval-to-take-out-drones-at-airports/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
A UK created "ray gun" that can knock drones out of the sky with radio signals is going to be tested at airports in the US starting next month. The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) was granted granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be tested in a bid to prevent drones hitting planes - or worse.
As the threat from drones grows - with incidents already reported that are as wide ranging as terrorists using them to drop IED's onto crowds in Iraq, drones flying into aircraft at Heathrow and drones making incursions into the Whitehouses' airspace it's inevitable that these systems will increasingly become part and parcel of the landscape.
The deal to test the system, which was developed by Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics, and Enterprise Control Systems, is one of a number of options being considered by the aviation body and the AUDS system, which is described by its creators as a way to "disrupt or neutralise" drones that are "engaged in hostile airborne surveillance and potentially malicious activity" uses a combination of thermal sensors, smart sensors and effectors that are capable of remotely detecting small UAVs at up to ranges of 6 miles and then tracking and classifying them before providing the operators with the opportunity to press the button and bring them down.
The device works in a similar way to many of the military systems that are now flooding onto the market using a mix of electronic jamming systems to make the drones unresponsive to their operators commands, allowing them to be either bought down by the AUDs operator in a controlled manner or just simply neutralised.
The FAA's trial will last for six months and at the end of it the aviation authority will decide whether or not to roll these systems out to more airports around the country.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Drones are increasingly being used by criminals and terrorists to disrupt and destroy high value targets so security services around the world are now in an arms race to make sure they stay one step ahead of the threat.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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Sources and further reading
- Updates faa.gov
- Federal Aviation Administration faa.gov
- Blighter Surveillance Systems blighter.com
- Chess Dynamics chess-dynamics.com
- Enterprise Control Systems enterprisecontrol.co.uk
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 29 November 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Drone ray gun gets FAA approval to take out drones at airports. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/drone-ray-gun-gets-faa-approval-to-take-out-drones-at-airports/
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