Seek more powerful drone jammers

The Army has been working on a 'Drone Dome' or 'kill-portable jammer' - which can 'soft kill' a drone by knocking out its communications or a 'hard kill' by shooting it down with a laser from up to two miles away - and may use this prototypical technology.

Of late, the electronic warfare systems for both naval and airborne platforms are equipped with emerging technologies, which enhance their capabilities. These systems focus on jamming and identification of radar and other electronic signals that enable operations in the enemy territories. For instance, the US SEWIP program focuses on the upgrade of AN/SLQ-32 EW system for defense against the cruise or guided missiles and other radar threats. For airborne platforms, the Next Generation Jammer is intended to strengthen the software-driven approach to these systems. This can be employed across a range of platforms, including next generation stealth fighter planes and bombers and other special mission aircraft.

Currently, the ECM protective systems that have been used to weaken the enemy attempts by using electromagnetic spectrum. The development in ECM protective systems platform will move beyond jammers that simply barrage the environment with signals, but also block friendly communications to selective and reactive target jamming capabilities. There will also be a preference towards dismounted and portable jammers that will allow the development of smaller lightweight personal protection devices.

Globally, extensive research and development are being carried out in the development of new and more powerful high-tech electronic warfare jamming technologies. These jamming technologies are classified under the Next-Generation wifi signal jammer, which will enable the destruction of enemy targets without being detected by their defense systems. As the pace of technology changes with the rapid upgrade of systems, the emerging NGJ technology is expected to be deployed by early 2020.

Jamming technology is becoming more important

During NATO’s Trident Juncture exercise in October, the Norwegian airline Wideroe reported a loss of GPS signal in airplanes flying in the north of the country. At the same time, Finland’s Air Navigation Services, a government aviation authority, issued a similar warning to the country’s airlines. In both places, somebody was jamming GPS systems. Several months earlier, the airport in the French city of Nantes had experienced similar disruptions. The ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) used to assist aircraft during takeoff and landing repeatedly failed, without a detectable mechanical cause.

Obscured by police officers, the third piece of kit seen on the Gatwick airport roof is possibly a jamming device, used to disrupt the signal between the ground operator and the drone. A well-placed source said a jamming device was deployed at Gatwick and which was supplied by the British military. The source suggested the drone jammer was to be used as backup and as a last resort. Authorities had placed Army and police snipers around the perimeter of the airport and had hoped to shoot the drone down or else trace it back to its operator - rather than jam the signal. "We want to capture the drone not destroy it," said the source.

Jamming technology disrupts the radio frequencies being used by the controller to direct the drone. Experts describe it as like using a huge blast of targeted noise to block the signals between the controller and the drone.