The British defense technology company QinetiQ demonstrated a drone whose link with the remote pilot is carried out by a laser. With it, current electromagnetic pulse anti-drone systems become ineffective.
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At the beginning of the month, Futura evoked the stuporan electromagnetic pulse rifle used by the Russian military to neutralize drone Ukrainians on the front line in the east of the country. This type of system cuts the connection between the drone and the operator radio control. In the case of an autonomous drone, it is the GPS which is neutralized, which makes navigation impossible. These anti-drone weapons are also used by the police services of many countries, including France, to block illegal flights. It is therefore difficult for a drone to overcome such a system… but not impossible, as the British company has just demonstrated. QinetiQ. Instead of a link radiothis defense company has developed a connection laser called FSOC.
Laser to fight against the laser
With this optical link, eventually the electromagnetic pulse guns become ineffective and it is impossible to detect the uplink and downlink data stream. To operate, a target is permanently directed towards the drone, which means that there should be no obstacle between the two elements. The company does not indicate whether the presence of smoke or other volatile elements are likely to disturb the laser signal. On the other hand, this type of link will not change the game against the latest innovations for the fight against drones, for example the laser cannons such as the one ordered by theFrench army to ensure the protection of the sky during the 2024 Olympic Games.
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