Drone Defence System Protects Against Full Spectrum of Threats
Over the past several years, commercially available drones – also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – have flooded global markets. Easy-to-control and readily available drones are becoming the tool of choice for those wishing to do harm. Counter-UAV technologies are matter of interest for homeland security, police and even private security. A sophisticated solution on offer in Bonn this week – named GUARDION – has been designed by ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, which describes it as a “modular system solution utilising the most suitable state-of-the-art components available on the market, as well as a command, control, and situation awareness system of military background.” The system was first deployed in June 2015 at Elmau, Bavaria, during the G7 meeting, where authorities issued an overfly prohibition for ultralight aircraft and UAVs. A demonstrator of the technology was used to “ensure effective protection” against an “omnipresent security risk”. Since the debut in 2015, the system entered next stages of development, with the solution focusing on additional means of electronic detection, verification and countermeasures, as well as appropriate means of C2. For the latter, ESG provides its proven TARANIS system for networking security authorities and improving situation awareness. It can be used by mobile and stationary control centres or individual officers. ESG describes these tailored solutions as a significant contribution to improving situational awareness and accelerating decision-making processes and coordination of crisis response teams.
A cooperation of ESG, Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz, GUARDION detects commercially available drones and makes it possible to counter them: Rohde & Schwarz’ ARDRONIS radio sensor (detecting and identifying a drone and taking the bearings on the remote controller even before the drone takes off); a radar sensor from Robin Radar Systems BV in the Netherlands (covering a full 360-degree view); an acoustic sensor (recognising a drone’s specific noise); and an optical sensor. ESG’s Project Manager, Counter UAS Systems, Dr Frank Wallrapp, confirmed that GUARDION is ranked as a multi-effector solution, also comprising a High Power Electro-Magnetics (HPEM) effector developed and supplied by Diehl Defence. Besides this, a countermeasure can include soft killing (control link jamming, GPS jamming and spoofing, sensor blinding or disruption of electronics).
Stefan Nitschke
The GUARDION drone defence system carries out radar detection, optoelectronic identification and electronic countermeasures, coordinated by ESG’s compact TARANIS system, which is a C2 system for networking public security authorities. (Photo: ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH)
