![\"FORTEM](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/126010348_fortemcopyofdh-f700-fixed-wing-capture-696x392.jpg\" "\\"FORTEM")
\nImage caption: A drone interceptor capturing a fixed wing drone
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Man-to-man marking will be paired with drone versus drone security at this winter\u2019s Fifa World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n
Unmanned aerial vehicles that shoot nets to bring down small \u201crogue\u201d drones will help defend venues.<\/p>\n
Fortem Technologies will provide the interceptor drones, following an agreement with Qatar\u2019s interior ministry.<\/p>\n
It says the agreement reflects growing fears about the threat potential drone attacks pose in general.<\/p>\n
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Fortem says its system is a safe way to bring down drones in built-up locations, reducing the risks of injury that might be caused if weapons were used.<\/p>\n
The autonomous, radaf\u00e7g HHr-guided interceptor drones \u2013 dubbed DroneHunters by the firm \u2013 tackle small consumer drones by firing nets to snare the target drone which may then be carried to another location.<\/p>\n
For larger drones, a net is launched at the target which is connected to a parachute, slowing the entangled target and forcing it to the ground.<\/p>\n
Targets are identified using a \u201cseries of very small radars that are distributed throughout the venue, creating a complete picture of the airspace straight up into the air\u201d, Fortem chief executive and co-founder Timothy Bean told the BBC.<\/p>\n
The company claims the drones have had \u201clive kills\u201d at various security sites around the world.<\/p>\n
But the roar of fans will not be accompanied by the buzz of drones because the machines do their work \u201ca mile or so away from the venue\u201d, Mr. Bean added.<\/p>\n
Image caption: A view from the target\u2019s perspective of the expanding net launched by a Fortem drone<\/em><\/p>\n Alternative systems for stopping drones can rely on interfering with the drone\u2019s control signals, but Fortem argues terrorists may launch drones on pre-programmed flight paths.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason our business is skyrocketing is because terrorists don\u2019t use joysticks. Terrorists don\u2019t show up in your parking lot with a joystick. These drones are programmed \u2026 so they can\u2019t be jammed,\u201d Mr. Bean says.<\/p>\n The company says it has deployed anti-drone systems at other sporting events and at the World Economic Forum meeting at Davos. It has donated portable versions of its system to Ukraine and said it was also working on anti-drone measures for UK airports.<\/p>\n The Utah-based firm, which has received backing from Toshiba and Boeing, will work for the Qatari Ministry of Interior and Safety and Security Operations Committee at the World Cup in November and December.<\/p>\n Prof David Dunn, of the University of Birmingham, says that the threat from terrorist use of drones has increased because the technology has become more accessible.<\/p>\n He cites\u00a0the unsuccessful attempt by suicide bombers,\u00a0during the terrorist attacks on Paris in 2015, to gain access to the Stade de France, where France were playing Germany in a football friendly.<\/p>\n A drone might have been able to enter the stadium, he suggests, where ground-based terrorists could not.<\/p>\n Dr. Steve Wright, from the University of the West of England, also thinks concerns have been heightened partially because commercial drones have been modified into weapons in conflicts in Yemen and Ukraine.<\/p>\n He believes that systems like Fortem\u2019s can be effective against a threat from smaller drones.<\/p>\n Dr. Wright, who is working on a similar system for a European company, believes that they expand the line of defense outwards from a venue, giving defenders more time to respond.<\/p>\n But he warns these are one step in an arms race and says that as attacking drones increase in speed, they will be harder to stop.<\/p>\n Image caption: A drone interceptor emerging from its hangar<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking at technologies of how we can push that out 200mph (322km\/h), maybe even 300mph one day, as we squeeze the sponge of the electric technology we\u2019ve got,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n And attackers may make drones more maneuverable. Dr. Wright said his team had built a drone that could accelerate so fast it was like going from zero to 60mph (97km\/h) in under a second.<\/p>\n So-called \u201cswarms\u201d of multiple attacking drones would also present a challenge. Dr. Wright said in the conflict with Yemen, \u201cthe Saudis are already seeing that problem starting to crop up as groups of these things are sent over the border simultaneously\u201d.<\/p>\n But by requiring attackers to employ countermeasures, all drone defense systems make attacks harder, and so reduce the likelihood of one taking place.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your countermeasure is defeated, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that the countermeasure is pointless. Because you still impose a cost on your enemy\u201d, Dr. Wright said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Screengrab](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_126007707_fortem_screengrab.jpg\")
IMAGE SOURCE: FORTEM TECHNOLOGIES<\/em><\/p>\n![\"A](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_126010346_fortemyumaprovingground.jpg\")
IMAGE SOURCE: FORTEM TECHNOLOGIES<\/em><\/p>\n