What Makes a Drone Detector Essential for Modern Airspace Security
- Jack Ranson
- Oct 23
- 3 min read
Unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, have dramatically changed the security landscape. The global drone detection market is expected to grow to $2.33 billion by 2029. As a result, organisations worldwide are putting big money into counter-UAS technologies.
This article looks at why drone detectors are now vital to security strategies for modern airspace.
The Escalating Threat of Unauthorised Drone Activity
Drone intrusions have skyrocketed. The Federal Aviation Administration says that more than 100 drones are spotted near airports every month. These incidents create serious threats to flight safety and the country's security. Recent high-profile incidents have highlighted a growing concern.
Copenhagen Airport had to close for nearly four hours in September 2025 after several big drones flew into its airspace, and Stewart International Airport in New York shut down for an hour due to drone activity.
Meanwhile, military bases have been dealing with similar issues. Over 530 drone sightings were reported in Germany in the first three months of 2025.
Why Traditional Security Measures Fall Short
Traditional security systems cannot deal with threats from the air. Drones can easily fly over fences and metal detectors and slip past conventional surveillance systems. Their ability to fly low and high agility makes them nearly impossible to spot.
The rise of "dark" autonomous drones, which don't give off any radio signals, makes detecting them even harder. These advanced devices make up around 15% of drone incidents and are becoming increasingly tough to deal with.
Core Technologies Behind Effective Drone Detection
Radio Frequency (RF) Scanning and the Handheld Anti-Drone Gun
RF-based systems track drones by listening in on the communications between operators and their aircraft. One portable way to do this is with a handheld anti-drone gun, which lets security teams detect and disrupt drone communications. For example, UAV Defence's handheld guns can pick up drones from over 2 kilometres away and still weigh in under 5 kilograms.
However, the handheld anti-drone gun is restricted in many areas due to laws around signal jamming. Even so, RF scanning remains the go-to method for spotting communications between drones and their operators.
Radar Systems for Comprehensive Coverage
Radar-based detection systems are really good at spotting and tracking UAVs from far away, no matter the weather. Newer radar platforms use smart algorithms to tell the difference between slow, low-flying drones and background noise from things like birds.
X-band anti-drone radar systems offer 360-degree protection with adjustable pitch. These systems provide a complete view of the airspace and can be set up to track multiple targets. They're crucial for defending airports and important infrastructure.
Advanced Countermeasures: Anti-Drone Jammer and Laser Drone Jammer
Anti-drone jammers cut off the radio link between drones and their operators, usually making unauthorised aircraft land or return. These devices blast interference signals at the drone's operating frequencies.
The laser drone jammer uses super-concentrated laser beams to take down drones. It's a more attractive option for several reasons. There's hardly any collateral damage, and it's virtually ammo-free. Defence experts think laser-based systems will get more popular as tech evolves.
Multi-Layered Detection Approaches
Security experts are now more often recommending systems that bring together different sensors. Combining these sensors helps overcome their individual weaknesses and makes it easier to identify and track things. Systems that merge data from multiple sensors can reach detection accuracy of up to 95%.
AI and machine learning can now analyse data in real time and automatically sort threats. AI systems trained on a massive amount of images can accurately distinguish between drones and birds. This means false positives have virtually disappeared.
Companies such as UAV Defence are at the forefront of developing these sophisticated detection systems.
Applications Across Critical Sectors
Airport and Aviation Security
The 2018 Gatwick Airport incident is a good reminder of this. It caused 36 hours of disruption, affecting 140,000 passengers and costing £64 million. Airports these days need to be able to detect drones from at least 3 kilometres away and keep false alarms to under 5%.
Military Installations and Border Security
Drones can gather intel on troop movements and how well the base is defended. The US and Canada have teamed up to test some innovative solutions along the Niagara River border. They've set up special sensor networks to detect and disrupt drones.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Power plants and factories need a solid system to detect drones. This helps stop work being interrupted and prevents unwelcome snooping. UAV Defence has a range of products to handle different security needs.
To Conclude
Drone detectors have become vital parts of everyday security systems. As more and more people fly drones without permission worldwide, investing in reliable detection technology such as an anti-drone jammer, becomes a must-have for day-to-day operations.
As rules for drone security get better and technology advances, companies like UAV Defence will protect assets and important infrastructure from the growing drone threat.
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