Protection against the increasing threat of UASs

David Eldridge, of Chess Dynamics, reports on the growing threat to shipping posed by unmanned aerial systems

The threat from unmanned aerial systems (UASs) is increasing across all environments whether on land or sea, in military or civilian scenarios and in recent months, the naval threat has recently come into focus amid escalating tensions through reported use of drones in the Gulf. Vulnerable both at sea or in port from unwanted surveillance or, critically, attack from hostile UASs carrying arms or explosives, navies need to be equipped to create and enforce exclusion zones to protect their vessels. But where do the main threats lie, and how can technologies from other domains help navies meet these rapidly evolving challenges?