Posted on 02/20/2017 4:18:18 PM PST by BBell
In its fight to prevent future terrorist attacks on its soil, France has found an unlikely ally: the royal eagle.
The French Air Force is currently training birds of prey to take down remote-controlled objects following reports that ISIS recruits are weaponizing consumer markets drones to carry out attacks against enemy fighters.
The air force first acquired four royal eagles eggs last spring and began training them in a base in south west France after they reached adult size.
The birds were placed on top of drones when they were still in their eggshells and kept there during the early stages of feeding. Once they were fit to fly, the royal eagles were taken to a field to be trained to intercept airborne drones. The birds, which are able to grab and carry animals as heavy as goats and lambs, were in turn rewarded with meat.
“These eagles can spot the drones several thousand meters (yards) away and neutralize them,” Jean-Christophe Zimmerman, a French Air Force general, told Reuters.
Considered more robust than other birds like falcons, eagles also present a great advantage: they are seen as safer than using guns or nets to take down drones during events with large crowds, such as public ceremonies, festivals or fireworks.
“In certain situations (falling debris, a crowd under the craft), the drone cannot be shot down,” an air force spokesman told L’Express magazine. “The eagle, along with other means, can enable us to intercept the craft without causing any further damage.”
Rogue or poorly controlled drones have been branded “a credible threat for a terrorist mode of action on our national territory just as they do for external operations” by French security officials, particularly after the wave of terrorist attacks that shook France over the past two years.
Last spring, dozens of mystery drones were spotted flying over the Eiffel Tower, the US embassy, the Elysée Palace and other famous landmarks in central Paris, but also over military installations and nuclear plants, prompting fears that the machines were being used as spying technology.
France is not the only country using eagles to capture drones. The practice is also common in Holland.
Funny. I tried go ogling “Royal “ Eagle and got nothing. My guess is they are using AMERICAN bald eagles and painting their heads brown. :)
***Eagles are glorified buzzards.***
That is why Ben Franklin wanted the Wild Turkey for our national bird.
I’ll drink to that!
Probably golden eagles. Royal eagle would be literal translation of aigle royal (golden eagle).
It is the way the French call the large bird of prey in their parts, l’Aigle Royale
I saw the video.
Goat should try to get a contract with Red Bull.
That was frickin’ awesome.
Awesome!
Where is the top picture from?
Gives new meaning to the callsign “Eagle One” :D
Daffynition,
I was wondering what their unit patch would be.
At the link is a picture of one of the eagles with his/her Jess on; it has the logo on it and “armee’ de (something)” on the bottom.
I wonder if our bald eagles can be trained in the same manner?
It would be somentng else to see a squadron of those flying!
And dive-bombing haji’s drones.
A 12-gauge Remington Model 870 pump shotgun would probably be just as effective and a lot simpler.
Absolutely horrifying————the poor goat.
Thanks to both of you.
.
It sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings.
Nature is cruel.
Mother nature can be even more cruel.
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