Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Sean Humbert released a predicting the imminent threats of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUASs) on deployed U.S. forces. This research is supported through a study titled "Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Capability for Battalion-and-Below Operations."Â
Commerical drones, also known as "hobby drones," are becoming more advanced over time, and their prices have dropped, making them more accessible to the public. As hobby drones become more sophisticated, the threats to U.S. armed forces increases. These hobby drones can be modified and customized with online components to carry lethal weapons, identify targets at long ranges, and conduct electronic warfare. They can also be fitted with explosives or technology to jam radio frequency signals. Especially when combined into groups or swarms, the threat becomes more significant.Â
Countering and defending against these sUASs can be a challenge. In the first place, detection of sUASs requires detection and identification, which can be challenging because of their small size and ability to fly at low altitudes, in irregular flight paths, and several different speeds. Detecting the radio frequency transmissions of sUASs or thier operators is also becoming less effective, as today's sUASs can operate without radio frequency command-and-control links. The U.S. Army and DOD are developing tactics and technologies to counter these sUASs with the assumption that this threat is imminent and small drones could be a critical part of war from now on.Â