Defense experts say countering increasingly sophisticated unmanned aircraft requires integrated detection and defense systems as adversaries deploy inexpensive but destructive drone technology.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Military officials and defense analysts say unmanned aerial systems—commonly known as drones—have rapidly emerged as one of the most challenging threats facing both the modern battlefield and domestic security, as low-cost devices capable of carrying explosives or surveillance equipment become more widely available.
Experts studying the issue say that effective defenses require multiple layers of detection and response technologies working together. According to a report from Just the News, officials describe the solution as a “system of systems” that integrates sensors, command networks and defensive tools.
Recent conflicts have illustrated the destructive potential of relatively inexpensive drone systems. Iranian Shahed-style drones, which cost between $20,000 and $50,000, have been used in attacks across the Middle East. Reports say Iranian drones have killed six members of the U.S. Army Reserve at a command center in Kuwait and have damaged major petroleum facilities in the region.
U.S. law enforcement agencies are also monitoring the potential for drone-related threats domestically. The FBI has warned that Iranian drone capabilities could pose risks to targets in California as tensions linked to the conflict continue.
Concerns about drone vulnerabilities are not new within the defense establishment. Nearly two decades ago, defense officials were already examining how small, inexpensive drones could be weaponized.
In 2007, Tom Rullman, president and CEO of GT Aeronautics, unexpectedly found himself discussing drone technology with a U.S. Air Force general during a taxi ride in Washington. At the time, the company was developing a compact drone called the Bandito, designed to perform air-to-ground missions.
The device had a wingspan of approximately 16 inches, weighed under two pounds and could reach speeds of roughly 200 miles per hour.
Rullman later presented the technology to senior Air Force officials at the Pentagon.
“There were like 40 generals in the room, and I had a 20-minute time slot. That brief turned into three hours,” Rullman said.
During the briefing, officials questioned whether a drone like the Bandito could theoretically be used to attack a target such as the White House.
“Absolutely,” Rullman told them. “We can launch a Bandito outside the window of a truck that’s moving, do it 20 miles away and send it to a target on the ground.”
The demonstration prompted the Pentagon to explore ways such systems could be adapted for defensive purposes. By 2009, GT Aeronautics was conducting tests near Point Mugu Naval Air Station in California while developing tracking technologies for drone interception.
Today, military leaders say drone proliferation has accelerated dramatically.
Col. Guy Yelverton, a project manager overseeing counter-unmanned aircraft programs for the U.S. Army, said inexpensive drones have become widely accessible tools for adversaries and non-state actors.
“They’re becoming a defining feature of modern warfare,” said Yelverton, whose work focuses on counter-unmanned aircraft systems.
According to Yelverton, drones give adversaries the ability to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance and attacks without exposing their own personnel to direct risk.
“They can make a drone pretty cheaply and then hang something off of it that could do some damage,” he said.
On the battlefield, drones provide persistent observation capabilities and enable rapid strikes. That combination significantly shortens the decision-making time available to defending forces.
The federal government has recently accelerated efforts to expand domestic drone and counter-drone capabilities. In June, President Donald Trump signed the executive order titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance”, which aims to boost commercial drone development and support programs designed to counter hostile unmanned aircraft.
Two months later, the Department of War established the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, a program intended to accelerate deployment of counter-drone technologies across the military.
Members of Congress have also examined the issue. During a visit to GT Aeronautics facilities in Wyoming, Rep. Harriet Hageman praised the company’s work developing unmanned aircraft systems manufactured with domestic components, noting the importance of expanding American technological capabilities. Her comments were shared in a statement posted on X.
Despite ongoing development efforts, defense officials say building effective counter-drone systems presents several challenges.
One of the primary obstacles is detection. Small drones can be difficult to identify in cluttered airspace filled with birds, aircraft and other objects. Once detected, defense systems must determine whether the drone poses a threat and respond quickly enough to neutralize it.
Another major issue is cost. Some drone defense systems rely on expensive missiles designed for larger targets. Using million-dollar interceptors against drones costing tens of thousands—or even hundreds—of dollars is not considered sustainable.
“We’re constantly looking at how we can manage the cost of an interceptor, especially when you start thinking about mass threats,” Yelverton said.
For that reason, defense planners are exploring layered solutions combining multiple technologies.
Yelverton described the approach as integrating detection systems, command networks and various response options including electronic warfare, projectile weapons and directed-energy tools such as lasers or microwaves.
“I need to sense, decide and act. And I need to bring all that together in a system of systems. But then I also need trained operators to be able to support all that,” he said.
Artificial intelligence may also play a role in helping operators analyze large amounts of data and make decisions more quickly, though Yelverton said such tools would assist human operators rather than replace them.
Military planners are also evaluating ways to ensure that counter-drone technologies can be integrated across all branches of the armed forces and with the Department of Homeland Security.
Domestic threats remain another concern. Critical infrastructure such as electrical grids may be vulnerable to drone attacks, according to analysis published by Utility Dive.
Recent reports have documented hundreds of drone incursions over U.S. military installations. In response, the Pentagon expanded commanders’ authority to respond to potential threats beyond base perimeters, according to reporting from DefenseScoop.
Investigations into drone activity near U.S. bases continue, and authorities have said the purpose of some of the aircraft remains uncertain, according to earlier reporting by DefenseScoop.
Rullman said one of the key elements in defending against drone threats is the ability to intercept hostile aircraft before they reach their targets.
“Most of the engagements are happening right overhead, which is kind of too late. If it’s dropping a grenade on you, that’s too late,” he said.
During tests conducted in the California desert, Rullman said the Bandito interceptor drone was able to approach within 18 inches of targets located as far as 50 miles away. The system relies on existing radar infrastructure, which allows it to integrate with current air-defense networks.
Because the devices are relatively inexpensive, Rullman said large numbers could be deployed at military installations.
“If someone shot 300 drones, and we shot 300 Banditos to take them down, we’d only use up 1/6 of our inventory of munitions,” he said.
Defense officials say the rapid spread of drone technology means countermeasures must continue evolving alongside the threats they are designed to stop.
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