Posted on 08/08/2017 8:02:25 AM PDT by Seizethecarp
The Pentagon has given US military bases permission to shoot down or otherwise destroy consumer drones flying overhead and nearby.
A spokesman revealed that guidance was issued on 4 August. He said the exact terms of the policy were classified.
The move comes days after the US Army ordered its own troops to stop using drones made by Chinese manufacturer DJI because of alleged "cyber-vulnerabilities".
It became illegal to fly personal drones within 400ft (122m) of the US's 133 military facilities in April.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced at the time that those who disobeyed the order would face financial penalties and possible criminal charges.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
See this article that was linked to in the BBC story...
“US Army calls for units to discontinue use of DJI equipment”
https://www.suasnews.com/2017/08/us-army-calls-units-discontinue-use-dji-equipment/
“According to a U.S. Army memo obtained by sUAS News, the U.S. Army Research Lab and U.S. Navy have concluded that there are operational risks associated with DJI equipment, a move that was run up the flag pole last month but kept under wraps.”
The article does not state the specific “cyber-vulnerabilities”, which might be good to know. I noted that a DJI spokesman claimed that they were never specified.
You can see how a back door data collection capability could be built in to these things, though. The potential for harm could be pretty huge. So tell us what it is!
Seems reasonable. I have the same policy.
I thought the FAA forbade this? Last I heard the military is subservient to the FAA/Civilians!
Or is it that we peasants must be subject to peeping toms not allowed to shoot because the FAA prefers it so?
So cyber snooping for us but we cannot snoop and blow the whistle on them?
Bull Sht!
DJI hardware likes to phone home with image and location data.
And how do they propose this ? What type of ammo will they be using ? Will they be accountable for misses, secondary damages and even deaths ?
Drones are NOT easy to shoot down,and are far more of a challenge when you’re near the population and you’re missing every shot.
These damn things are available all over! You can order one at Amazon! Putting them in the hands of the (stupid) general public was a big mistake. Shoot them down!
This could backfire. I could foresee an Air Force base not being able to scramble for an attack because they were being swarmed by drones and spending all of their energy on that.
Good. Some terrorist is likely to use them.
Good.
The only thing better than shooting the damn things would be shooting the idiots who fly them (anywhere other than over their OWN property).
I’ve been looking for some volunteer work to do. I’ll even provide my own shotgun and ammo. Tough work at night, though, without some support.
I imagined something like that. That could supply quite a volume of intel, with a swarm of amateur drones across the US providing imagery...
Thanks for the reply, NM.
I suspect that 10 or so drones dancing in low over the runway could make takeoff an iffy prospect. With 20+ minute duration per drone, how many drones would it take to effectively close a runway for several hours? Even a terrorist group can afford 100+ drones, it is child's play for any government.
“This ridiculous drone gun can shoot down UAVs from 2km”
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/droneshield-dronegun-shoot-drone-uav-sky
“Since the drone gun launched, the company has claimed it has had interest, and sales leads, from a number of nations. In January 2017, the gun was used by Swiss police at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“Graubünden, a Swiss police agency, had the gun as part of prevention methods to protect the political leaders and other guests at the event.”
I think that the drone will crash if the controller goes up in a cloud of antiradiation missle explosions.. NO excused, no arguing, NOT PRUDENT DON’T DO IT..
“I could foresee an Air Force base not being able to scramble for an attack because they were being swarmed by drones and spending all of their energy on that.”
I could force an Air Force base being swarmed by drones AS an attack.
Strangely convenient if the base is being swarmed by drones right when they need to scramble for an attack. Spending energy on that would be warranted, esp. with the ease of loading a little C4 in each and buzzing them into hangars, entrances, cockpits, etc. - exactly the reason the AF wants the power to destroy unauthorized drones without notice.
Yeh but they won’t shoot down an Iranian drone hassling a hornet that’s trying to land on a carrier.
Drone Swarm Test (it gets interesting at 1:00)
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