Key Markets

The rise of the consumer and prosumer drone markets has highlighted the wide range of existing and new potential threats within the counter-UAS threat landscape.

These threats can be classified into two broad categories – Malicious and Errant:

Malicious intent

• Militant groups are exploiting consumer drones for:
  • Battlefield reconnaissance
  • Dropping small bombs/IEDs
  • Propaganda footage for recruitment videos
• Acts of terrorism:
  • Flying drone into the flight path of commercial airliner
  • Creating fear by causing temporary closure of airports, stadiums or disruption of national public events
• Drug smuggling:
  • Prosumer and custom-built drones are being used for international cross-border smuggling of narcotics
• Industrial espionage:
  • Hostile surveillance by rival manufacturers for reasons of IP theft (vehicle proving grounds and test tracks)
  • Breaching secure perimeters for cyber hacking and covert information gathering

Errant operation

• Unwanted surveillance by Paparazzi
  • VIP privacy intrusion
• Untrained users around sensitive areas
  • Airports
  • Key national sites (administrative buildings: courts, parliaments, etc.)
  • Power stations
• Incursions by inquisitive operators

AUDS has been designed to help mitigate all of the above threats.