What if soldiers on the ground got a heads-up regarding an incoming kamikaze drone in advance? To be precise, what if men on the ground knew about enemy UAVs two kilometres away? More importantly, what if they were carrying a signal disruption mechanism that could jam enemy drones before they could make their descent?
According to reports, the US Army has already conducted operational testing of such a wearable counter-drone device, while Ukrainian forces have been equipped with initial prototypes. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel present near Gaza will also test the technology, a report said.
While the signal-jamming technology will look to disrupt the travel of UAVs as far as three kilometres away, the other component of the wearable device will alert ground troops to the direction of a potential UAV threat, so that they can flee, look for cover, or adopt a defensive firing posture that best suits the situation. If not killed by signal jamming, a slow-moving suicide drone can still cause harm to fighters, but an early warning improves the soldiers' chances of survival.
According to media reports, the patent for the potential game-changer goes to Autonomous Guard, an Israeli defence tech company, and its counter-drone technology specialist division, Skylock. Named SkyLock’s Sky Spotter Pro, the wearable system can even ensure troops do not get confused by the presence of friendly drones in the area. It will also locate the position of drone operators if they are not far away—ensuring they can be targeted.
"When interception is required, SkyLock’s RF guns, which are handheld jamming devices that do not require precise aiming, can be used to neutralise incoming drones. SkyLock’s Sky Spotter Pro allows operators to preload friendly drone data during mission planning, reducing false alarms and improving identification accuracy," The Jerusalem Post said in a report.
According to a report, the US Army's European Command (EUCOM) tested the Israeli system during a drill in Germany.
