We've seen a couple of brute force anti-drone devices designed to snatch the tiny machines out of the sky, but Battelle's DroneDefender is one of the first to do it with an invisible beam delivered in an ultraportable, gun-like form.
The device uses radio control frequency disruption to halt and bring down drones in a way that keeps the drone intact while preventing it from setting off any kind of self-destruct sequence.
Of course, there are other non-contact anti-drone solutions already available, such as the Falcon Shield and the Blighter AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System), but the DroneDefender is far more portable and lightweight (less than 10 pounds) than those stationary systems.
"This is just the kind of tool we need to safely counter a drone threat," Dan Stamm, a lead researcher on the project, said in a press statement. "The DroneDefender can help protect us from those who may wish to do us harm. It can help us in numerous settings, from the White House lawn to bases and embassies overseas; from prisons and schools to historic sites. It easily and reliably neutralizes the threat."
However, the anti-drone device, which was unveiled back in October, mysteriously disappeared from public view soon after. A visit to Battelle online reveals that the device has been entirely scrubbed from the company's website. When we attempted to contact the company to ask questions, we received an automated reply that confirmed the removal of the DroneDefender, as well as a hint as to why it was removed.
"FCC regulations (47 CFR 15) prohibit the marketing or sale of this device to entities other than U.S. Government agencies," reads the statement. "We are examining ITAR [International Traffic in Arms Regulations] and other export regulations at this time. Due to communication spectrum regulations and legal limitations on its use, we do not have near-term plans to pursue commercial sales."
So for now, the drone stopping gun is back to being a really cool weapon for the government, while civilians are still left with more crude means of stopping drones. Although disappeared from its website, the company promises a return to public view for the DroneDefender sometime in 2016, with a focus on sales to U.S. governmental agencies.
That last point is important because small drones are increasingly being used for aerial surveillance. In the case of industrial espionage, the ability to snag a drone intact in order to investigate its source could be vital.
Capable of five hours of continuous use, the device has a range of 400 meters and jams ISM bands (radio frequencies reserved for industrial, scientific and medical devices) and GPS signals. A look at a brief video demonstration (below) shows a user targeting and bringing down a small drone with ease, just outside of what looks like a guarded facility.
The U.S. Navy sent a ship near a contested island in the South China Sea on Saturday to challenge "excessive maritime claims that restrict the rights and freedoms of the United States and others," a U.S. Defense Department spokesman told CNN.
"This operation challenged attempts by the three claimants, China, Taiwan and Vietnam, to restrict navigation rights and freedoms around the features they claim by policies that require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial seas," Cmdr. Bill Urban said.
"This operation demonstrates, as President Obama and Secretary [Ash] Carter have stated, the United States will fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows. That is true in the South China Sea, as in other places around the globe."
The USS Curtis Wilbur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Triton Island, part of the Paracel Islands -- an archipelago claimed by the three. None of them was notified of the move.
"This operation was about challenging excessive maritime claims that restrict the rights and freedoms of the United States and others, not about territorial claims to land features," Urban said. "The United States takes no position on competing sovereignty claims between the parties to naturally formed land features in the South China Sea. The United States does take a strong position on protecting the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all countries, and that all maritime claims must comply with international law."
A spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry denounced the action.
"The U.S. naval ship violated Chinese law to enter China's territorial waters. China monitored the ship's movement and issued verbal messages in accordance with law," Hua Chunying said. "We urge the U.S. side to respect and abide by relevant laws of China, and do more to improve mutual trust as well as regional peace and stability."
Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that the operation was "a very serious provocation, politically and militarily."
And a spokesman for the Chinese defense ministry, Senior Col. Yang Yujun, said Saturday's move and ones like it are "very unprofessional and irresponsible in terms of the safety of troops on both sides."
"It may cause extremely dangerous consequences," Yang said. "No matter what provocative actions the U.S. takes, the Chinese military will take all necessary means to firmly protect sovereignty and security."
The U.S. conducted a similar operation in October. China said it warned that warship, the USS Lassen, as it came close to reefs claimed by China in contested waters.
Much of the South China Sea is subject to a series of territorial disputes between Asian nations. And near the Spratly Islands, which Beijing calls the Nansha islands, China has built an artificial island with air strips that analysts believe will be able to accommodate bombers.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/31/2016 00:00 ||
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#1
And a spokesman for the Chinese defense ministry, Senior Col. Yang Yujun, said Saturday's move and ones like it are "very unprofessional and irresponsible in terms of the safety of troops on both sides."
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/31/2016 10:50 Comments ||
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#2
The "WILBUR" appears to had stayed just outside the 12-nm limits of China's claimed island, which IMO effectively means that SSSHHH ... CCCCC thanks once again to Anti-US US OWG Globalist POTUS Obama China will have any time or extra time it needs to complete any + all of its new Airstrips on the various Disputed-but-China-Occupied SCS islands [Spratlys + Paracels].
ALL THINGS EQUAL, IMO AGAIN THIS IS COVERTLY DEVOL INTO BEING ABOUT WHAT TRANSIT ROUTES WILL BE ALLOWED [Taxed?] BY MAINLAND CHINA = BEIJING FOR USE BY INTERNATIONAL NAVIES, COMMERCIAL CARRIERS THROUGH MAINLAND CHINA'S SOVEREIGN OFFSHORE/MARITIME PROVINCE FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE SCS.
Beijing is getting its way - again, China = Beijing is unlikely to respond just yet wid military force agz the US incursions unless the USN, etc. starts violating the 12-nm limits + transits closer to China's claimed islands.
FYI AS PER DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS + OTHER, ALL OF CHINA'S NEW AIRSTRIPS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETED BEFORE OR BY EARLY SUMMER 2016, AFTER WHICH BEIJING IS EXPECTED TO DEPLOY PLAAF + OTHER MIL ASSETS TO THE ISLANDS.
Iff the Bammer is truly serious about halting China's construction activities + upholding US-specific credibility to our Regional Allies in East Asia, then he must be willing to order the US Navy-DOD in closer than 12-nms to China's claimed islands EVEN IFF IT MEANS RISKING DE FACTO MILITARY CONFRONTATION WID BEIJING.
I remind again that, "short-of-war" or losing a Mil Conflict = OWG Globalist "Limited War" agz China, the best thing ANti-US US OWG Globalist POTUS Obama can do to unilaterally empower the rise of Co-Superpower China in East Asia-Pacific/WESTPAC is for the US NOT to live up or adhere to its Mutual Defense-Security treaty obligations or mandates wid Regional Allies, angering same + inducing or inspiring same to abandon the US + join Beijing's camp.
PRAY HARD + KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED BECAUSE THE BAMMER IS FORCING THE US [+ West] TO WALK ON A VERY THIN, DANGEROUS, + POTENTIALLY EXISTENTIAL TRIPWIRE(S) OR "SLIPPERY SLOPE(S)" IN THE NAME OF OWG-NWO + US-GLOBAL SOCIALIST ORDER.
Posted by: Sven the pelter ||
01/31/2016 20:38 Comments ||
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#4
Sven - seek immediate assistance
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/31/2016 21:47 Comments ||
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#5
More this Guam AM ...
* WASHINGTON FREE BEACON > US PENTAGON CLAIMS WARSHIP PASSAGE NEAR DISPUTED ISLAND, CHINA CLAIMS US DESTROYER WAS "DRIVEN OFF".
* WORLD NEWS > [SCMP] CHINA URGED [by PLA Officials-Commanders] TO GET TOUGH WID US OVER USS "CURTIS WILBUR" SAIL-BY OF TRITON ISLAND IN DISPUTED SOUTYH CHINA SEA.
Warnings + Diplomatic rebukes agz the US by China taint enuff for some PLA Top Eggs.
* SAME > [SCMP] PLA GARRISON "WARNS OFF" US DESTROYER SAILING CLOSE TO ISLAND IN DISPUTED WATERS OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.
Sniff, sniff, JUST LIKE IRAN???
* HUDSON.ORG@TWITTER = IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CHINA COULD BE PREPARING TO INITIATE A SHORT MILITARY CONFLICT [Limited War] IN THE EAST CHINA SEA OVER SNEKAKU ISLANDS | [WSJ.com]BEIJING'S NEXT GAMBIT, THE EAST CHINA SEA.
Intimidating Tokyo + isolating the Taiwan battlefield/theater from the US.
* JAPAN NEWS@TWITTER = CHINA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF JAPAN OVER THE SENKAKUS + OKINAWA [Ryukyus].
* RELATED = ...
> CHINA DAILY = CHINA DRIVES OFF US WARSHIP [USS "Curts Wilbur"] INTRUDING IN XISHA [Paracels] ISLANDS WATERS.
> BIGNEWSNETWORK = CHINA URGES US NOT TO UNDERMINE MUTUAL TRUST AND REGIONAL PEACE WITH NAVAL INCURSIONS.
> BUSINESS INSIDER@TWITTER = CHINA IS ANGRY WID US WARSHIPS GETTING IN ITS WAY IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. USS "Lassen", now the USS "Curtis Wilbur".
> NDTV@TWITTER = US SENDING WARSHIP INTO SOUTH CHINA SEA A "DANGEROUS MOVE", WARNS CHINA.
VERSUS
* JAPAN TIMES > US URGED JAPAN TO CONSULT WID CHINA BEFORE 2012 SENKAKUS PURCHASE.
Various Netters includ TwitPerts/Heads are interpreting "Japan should've consulted wid China on the Senkakus" as the OBAMA ADMIN WANTING JAPAN TO KOWTOW = SURRENDER LIKE FRANCE TO CHINA ON THE SENKAKUS ISSUE.
YOOHOO, SWEET CAROLINE KENNEDY, YOU'RE STILL UP AT BAT!
We'll see soon enuff how long XI JINPING can hold off PLA demands for stronger China actions agz the US in the SCS [ECS?].
[AnNahar] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him... on Saturday embarks on a major tour of Latin American countries in a bid to expand Ankara's ties outside its traditional sphere of influence.
The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... is seeking to diversify its partners beyond its traditional sphere of influence within the bounds of the former Ottoman Empire in the Middle East and the Balkans, analysts say.
"The visit is part of Turkey's longer term ambition to expand its presence in Latin America, both to increase Turkish influence globally and also to reach out to new potential trade partners," said Aaron Stein, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a U.S. think tank.
With its opening to Latin America, Turkey appears to want to forge new alliances in new regions at a time of tricky ties with the United States, the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... and Russia.
Turkey's "multi-vector" foreign policy also covers Africa, which has been the subject of significantly greater interest from Turkey and visits by Erdogan in recent years.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, a former foreign minister, is seen as the architect of this policy, pushing for a pivotal role for Turkey in global and not just regional affairs.
This newly-assertive foreign policy by a key NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization.... member was slammed in some quarters for being "neo-Ottoman" and for drifting away from its Western axis.
In a sign of its growing soft power, Turkey's soap operas are taking Latin American countries by storm, prompting TV executives across the continent to start importing Turkish series to a region more used to exporting its own "telenovelas".
This reverses the long-held trend of Turkey banking on Latin American prime time soap operas.
#2
"Beyond the traditional spere of influence widin the bounds of the former Ottoman Empire in the ME + Balkans" > AS SEXY SLINKY KELLY BUNDY = CHRISTINI APPLEGATE EXCLAIMED, "THE HELL YOU SAY"!?
Methinks Kelly would say alleged Neo-Ottoman Islamist Turkey desires more than just the former boundaries of the old Ottoman Empire.
TURKEY = CHINA + IRAN = RECOVERING ANY + ALL LOST TERRITORIES IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
#3
The EU could be handing over GREECE, + by extension the BALKANS, on a silver platter to Turkey [ISIS/ISIL?] iff Muslim-Migrant-invaded Greece gets shut out of the Schengen + the EU refuses to take key steps to help Greece = Athens halt the Migrant flows.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
