In an era where drones are increasingly ubiquitous, soaring through the skies for various purposes ranging from recreational to commercial, the need to safeguard against potential threats they pose has become crucial. As the use of drones continues to expand across industries, so does the concern for security vulnerabilities they bring. In response, a burgeoning market for counter-drone technology has emerged, offering innovative solutions to detect, track, and mitigate unauthorized drone activity.

Tapping the subject matter expertise of three counter-drone specialists, ahead we explore the latest trends and opportunities that security integrators are utilizing to protect against airborne threats. Our participants: Mary-Lou Smulders, CMO and head of government affairs, Dedrone, Sterling VA; Yaron Zussman, general manager, Magos America, Kearny, NJ; and, Grant Jordan, CEO, Skysafe, San Diego.

From critical infrastructure protection to event security and beyond, the implications of effective counter-drone measures resonate across diverse sectors. The following roundtable-style discussion sheds light on the regulatory compliance concerns, design best practices, and real-world experiences shaping the deployment of counter-drone systems.

Market Trends & Growth

SDM: In what environments or industries do you believe there is the greatest need for counter-drone solutions?What factors drive this demand?

GRANT JORDAN, SKYSAFE: As the number of registered drone operators continuously increases, there is a growing need for certain industries including government, law enforcement, airports and critical infrastructure to manage their airspace with real-time drone data and analytics. We’ve seen many large airports that have had drones disrupt their flight operations, costing them millions of dollars and we know prisons have seen a rapid rise in drones used for smuggling in large quantities of contraband. Over the next few years, we expect schools, universities, and other high-trafficked locations to follow the trend.

Mary-Lou Smulders, Dedrone: From a public safety perspective, critical infrastructure is crucial for domestic counter-drone technology. This broad term covers everything from stadiums to correctional facilities, power plants, churches, and any place where many people can gather. You can never build a wall high enough to protect from a drone.

At Dedrone, while detecting, tracking and identifying bad drones, we also enhance situational awareness for good drones, such as those used by first responders or law enforcement. Drones can provide more than just a bird’s-eye view of a situation; they can arrive at a scene faster than humans and then enable assessment of an emerging incident to provide critical information that will help make better decisions before sending in personnel.

YARON ZUSSMAN, MAGOS AMERICA: Implementing counter-drone measures is critical for mitigating risks associated with unauthorized security breaches and sabotage activities from aerial targets. Critical infrastructure sites such as utilities, nuclear facilities, data centers and airports are all vulnerable to drone threats, which can damage or disrupt operations. Correctional facilities are another environment that faces challenges that could benefit from counter-drone solutions.

Lastly, we have also recently seen many sporting events delayed due to unauthorized drone activity in the area. The growing presence and misuse of affordable drones in the market, including technology and payload delivery capabilities, has driven the demand.

SDM: What emerging trends do you foresee in the counter-drone industry over the next few years? Are there secondary markets with potential that integrators should consider?

JORDAN: Currently, the biggest trend we are seeing is the shift away from buying counter-drone hardware systems to now looking to service providers. The threat has become too large and too complex for individual facility operators to manage alone and the expertise of outside providers is needed.

SMULDERS: The cycles of development for drone and counter-drone technology have reduced significantly, in large part due to the war in Ukraine, where commercial drones are being used alongside military ones. Militaries and law enforcement agencies are taking note of this rapid drone and counter-drone technology innovation and are working to remain abreast of the latest advancements. More money will pour in from governments racing to get their hands on actively productive tech, driving another quantum leap in terms of drone and counter-drone capabilities.

Consequently, there is significant potential for developing dual-use technologies that can function both for civilian and military usage. This broadens revenue streams for technology providers and integrators, enabling them to source more feedback quickly.

ZUSSMAN: There is much discussion surrounding regulations to mitigate risks associated with drone activities. In most cases, in the commercial world, even if a drone is detected, little can be done to minimize the risk. Over the next few years, we anticipate an increase in awareness and pressure on authorities and organizations to conform to regulations concerning drone operations, which will then lead to the implementation of solutions to ensure compliance.

The shift toward stricter adherence to regulations will drive the development of improved and cost-effective drone detection and mitigation technologies. Integrators should consider utilizing drones for security and developing expertise in drone detection technologies, as this trend will only grow as drones become cheaper and more widely used.

Integration & Deployment

SDM: How important is collaboration and integration with other security systems in an effective counter-drone strategy?

SMULDERS: Integration with other security industries can be easy to do but optional. Typically, a counter-drone solution is implemented in phase one of a project and then integrated into the more comprehensive security systems over time. This can be easier with specific counter-drone systems with pre-built APIs to facilitate the integration.

ZUSSMAN: A counter-drone solution must integrate with existing security solutions to provide improved threat detection and enhanced situational awareness. Correlating aerial threats with other security anomalies, such as ground-based breaches, allows sites to proactively mitigate risks from all points of their facility.

JORDAN: While the gold standard for airspace awareness is radio frequency (RF) tracking, we know integration with security platforms is going to become more important as more customers need drone tracking information within their single pane of glass. Additionally, if the client already has a video system they can provide valuable supplemental information during an incident, allowing eyes-on.

Vision Security Technologies of Birmingham, Ala., a Security-Net member, embarked on its journey into counter-drone technology approximately three years ago, positioning itself as a subject matter expert to end clients in higher education. In particular, universities within the Southeastern Conference (SEC) needed to fortify outdoor stadiums and other crowded areas against potential drone threats.

Discussing the concerns voiced by Vision’s clients, Del Deason, senior vice president, underscores the significance of preemptive measures, noting, “Their concern is it doesn’t really have to be a threat event, but just the potential or the perception of that event. Imagine a drone flying overhead of a major stadium with 100,000 people in it, and if it were just to drop a payload of white baby powder over the crowd, what the ensuing chaos would do from a safety standpoint at that event.”

Worse, consider the ensuing bedlam if a drone released an actual lethal payload that caused damage and harm. “The chaos just exponentially escalates from there,” Deason says.

One notable aspect of the Dedrone solutions offered by Vision Security Technologies, as highlighted by Deason, is their web-based nature. “The really cool thing about the solution that we are working with is it is a web-based application,” he remarks. This feature enables real-time monitoring and sharing of drone activity across multiple stakeholders, enhancing situational awareness and response capabilities.

Deason emphasizes the importance of integrating counter-drone systems with existing security infrastructure, such as video surveillance and radar sensing technologies. This integration enhances the efficacy of counter-drone measures and enables a comprehensive approach to aerial security.

A total solution calls for a layered approach. This entails tying in RF drone detection with visual verification using PTZ cameras. Consider this scenario: Drone detection technology identifies what could be a drone, which calls a PTZ camera into action to provide security or public safety personnel the opportunity to determine if the drone is carrying a payload or not. The ultimate solution also ties in radar sensing technology to provide an additional layer to the radio signature of the physical target.

“We have the capability of identifying friendly drones in the airspace. So if they know their public safety has unmanned aircraft in the area, they can mark those. If they know the broadcast teams have drones in the area, they can mark those,” Deason explains. “If they have known threats, if they’ve already identified the serial number — somebody that’s been in the area before that they’re watching for — they can mark that person as a threat and respond differently than perhaps just an unknown new bird coming into the area.”

When it comes to pricing and packaging counter-drone services, Vision Security Technologies adopts a flexible approach tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clients.

“In very broad general terms without even saying anything about numbers, because the numbers do swing wildly, these deployments are going into a SaaS type model,” Deason explains. This model incorporates System as a Service (SaaS), encompassing both hardware and software components, with ongoing operational expenditure (OPEX). Alternatively, clients may opt for a traditional equipment purchase with ongoing software support.

“We build custom support plans around all of our deployments,” Deason explains. “These plans are designed to address routine maintenance, calibration, configuration, among other aspects. But that’s not required and it’s customized per customer location, depending on what their needs are.”

Vision Security Technologies is bullish on the future of counter-drone solutions and expects to take their services well beyond the higher-ed niche.

“Drones in general are blowing up. If you look at that market space and how commonplace they are becoming now, anything from the hobbyist, to real estate, to surveying to … you name it,” Deason says. “More and more drones are being used by multiple industries. It’s moving into not just people that are concerned about threat management, as just overall management of airspace and knowing what’s up there and around them.”

SDM: What are the key considerations security integrators should keep in mind when designing a counter-drone system for a client’s specific needs and environment?

SMULDERS: There are two key considerations: A baseline assessment of drone incursions will help determine the most pressing vulnerabilities and thus determine where and what kind of sensors are required. Many clients start with a level one counter-drone solution and then add additional layers like cameras as the issue is better understood. This baseline will also help inform SOPs (standard operating procedures) for drone incursion response procedures.

Proximity to other no-fly zones will also help determine what regulations are in effect and which are only in effect when a temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been placed. For example, several stadiums are near airports, which always have drone flight restrictions in place.

ZUSSMAN: Integrators should leverage manufacturers training programs to understand best practices, enhance their technical expertise, and get hands-on experience as it relates to drone detection solutions.

We believe drone detection is a growing market and will become an integral part of any large perimeter intrusion detection system in critical infrastructure security. We recommend integrators start developing expertise to stay ahead of this large and emerging market.

JORDAN: There are four areas to consider: ease of deployment; maintenance; a highly reliable system with virtually no complexity of operation, regardless of environment; and, a company they can partner with that provides a platform that can keep up with the evolving technology and evolving threats.

Challenges Integrators Face

SDM: What are some common challenges encountered during the installation of counter-drone systems, and how can integrators address or overcome these hurdles?

ZUSSMAN: Like any other system, the technology should help security operations and reduce nuisance and false alarms. Early adopters have reported that many systems had difficulty classifying targets, creating multiple alarms on birds and other flying objects. To address this, sensor fusion and combining drone detection radars with visible sensors such as thermal cameras are being utilized. This allows for better target classification and reduced nuisance alarms.

JORDAN: Fundamentally, finding a solution that is offered as a managed service has the benefit of not needing the specialized expertise and resources on staff to install, operate and maintain the system on an ongoing basis. Specific challenges include how to position sensors and understand the environment around a facility. You need to work with a team that can deploy large-scale networks and take that burden off of the security system team.

SDM: What are some of the key limitations facing the adoption and deployment of counter-drone technology?

ZUSSMAN: The key challenge today is that, in most cases, even if you detect a drone, you can do little to mitigate the risk. We think that as the risk factor increases, we will see more and more thoughtful regulations that allow companies to mitigate the risk and use countermeasures to land and eliminate the drone threat. We just hope that this will be done before a major disaster, not after, which is often the case.

JORDAN: SkySafe addresses these challenges with a depth of technical knowledge and ease of use. As a managed service, the implementation is optimized and the hardware and system are completely operated and upgraded by the provider.

SMULDERS: Although drone incursions are becoming more common — practically a daily occurrence these days — the solution set is not yet well understood. Consequently, budgets for counter-drone operations are often small or non-existent.

However, this presents a strong opportunity for integrators to inform clients of the importance of protecting their airspace. Assess the issue as a phase zero and start with a tiny setup. Once the threat reveals itself, the budget will grow.

Counter-drone technology is still emerging as an industry despite growing quickly. The global drone market is expected to exceed $54 billion by 2030, and drones are continually becoming faster, able to fly for longer distances and carry heavier payloads. Drone incursions are a persistent and escalating threat vector. Integrators who embrace and understand the issue can leverage these opportunities and increase trust with their clients by presenting a clear solution path.

Regulatory Compliance to Consider

SDM: As with evolving drone regulations, are  there regulatory compliance concerns integrators should understand specific to counter-drone system deployments?

SMULDERS: Under current laws, law enforcement and private security professionals are only allowed to use specific counter-drone solutions, meaning integrators must be wary of which products they recommend. For example, mitigation — taking the drone down — solutions are not yet legal in the United States, although members of Congress are working to change that with a bipartisan bill (S.1631 - Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2023). In the meantime, it is best to start with a system that can detect and track the drone as it enters the airspace and provide the pilot’s location.

ZUSSMAN: Most regulations we see involve flying drones. This area has been moving very fast, and we are seeing many approvals for flying autonomous drones beyond visible line of sight (BVLOS). I recommend integrators regularly follow FAA and FCC regulations regarding drones and counter drones.

JORDAN: Integrators should work with a team that’s managing and following all of the emerging regulatory landscape, including drone registration and remote ID requirements.