The rapid proliferation of drones has created new security challenges, especially in high-risk areas and high-profile events. From military operations to VIP and crowd protection, anti-drone systems have been developed to detect and neutralize threatening drones.
These systems vary in how they operate, from electronic jamming "weapons" that neutralize drones to physical means of capturing or shooting them down. During ceremonies at the Vatican – such as during Pope Francis' funeral procession – Italian military personnel were seen equipped with a special portable anti-drone system or "bazooka" . This weapon looks like a large rifle with multiple barrels/antennas and is used to neutralize drones in a no-fly zone.
This is a portable electromagnetic jammer that interferes with a drone's communication signals, forcing it to either land in a controlled manner or crash. Military sources describe it as " a deterrent device that, in the event of an unauthorized drone, neutralizes its radio waves, causing it to crash or land on the ground ."
In practice, the system quickly identifies the drone's control frequencies and cuts off its connection to the Italian army operator.
These anti-drone "rifles" were deployed in the NATO mission in Kosovo in 2019, were used in the 2020-22 operations as well as at the World Cup in Qatar by the Air Force, but within Italy during high-level visits (the visit of Ukrainian President Zelensky to Rome ).
In the photo that went viral from the Vatican, an Italian soldier is seen holding the portable jammer with multiple antennas. This " machine gun " shape is due to the integrated directional antennas for different frequency bands.
Most portable anti-drone systems operate by electronically neutralizing the target.
Their main technical characteristics include:
How it works: In most cases, signal jamming (jamming) is applied to the drone's communication frequencies. The weapon emits strong electromagnetic signals in the bands where a commercial drone typically communicates with its remote control ( e.g. ISM bands 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, GPS frequencies, etc. ). This causes the drone to lose control and either automatically perform a safety function ( vertical landing or return to take-off point ), or simply become uncontrolled and fall. The system in the Vatican, for example, uses electromagnetic pulses to disable the operator's ability to control the drone.
Some advanced systems can alternatively attempt "GPS Spoofing" or taking control, rather than jamming it. They trick the drone by sending a fake GPS signal or landing command. For example, the SkyDroner system can send the drone a return to base or landing command ( distraction ) before resorting to full interference ( disarming ).
However, the most widespread practice in portable devices is wave blocking due to its reliability across a wide range of threats.
Range: Varies by model and conditions. Powerful military systems have effective ranges of hundreds of meters to 1-2 kilometers. DroneShield's, for example, reports a range of up to 1 km under typical conditions, while in an open field it has been recorded at a maximum range of up to 2 km.
Cost: The cost of purchasing anti-drone systems varies significantly, depending on the capabilities and manufacturer. In general, high-end manual jammers are priced in the tens of thousands of euros/dollars per unit. For example, a DroneGun or DroneDefender device is usually priced at around $20,000-$50,000. Therefore, integrated platforms with multiple sensors and a network ( Dedrone tracker with multiple detection nodes) can cost from several hundred thousand to millions, depending on the scale of the protected area. There are also cheaper solutions on the market – mostly of Chinese origin – with prices in the range of several thousand euros. For example, a portable 120 W jammer is available on the market for around $7,500 and achieves a range of 2.5 km under ideal conditions. (A2 Televizion)
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