Recently, the emergence of unauthorized drones caused significant disruptions, including the three-day closure of Gatwick Airport, affecting 1,000 flights and impacting approximately 140,000 travelers during the holiday season. Additionally, Heathrow Airport faced a temporary shutdown. In response to this rising threat, Indra stands out as a leader with its comprehensive, cutting-edge solution designed to safeguard airports and other sensitive areas from unauthorized drone activity.

Introducing ARMS (Anti RPAS Multisensor System), Indra’s intelligent shield capable of detecting drones from kilometers away. This system identifies various models and analyzes their weaknesses, enabling effective neutralization should an unauthorized drone breach the protected space.

Indra has rigorously tested ARMS in regions where drone threats are more prevalent than in Europe. These successful trials have established the company as one of the foremost providers globally, securing agreements with government clients after meeting stringent criteria.

ARMS permits precise disabling of individual drones through ‘surgical’ interventions or can respond to swarms with more aggressive countermeasures. In cases of simultaneous incursions from multiple points, it activates a comprehensive protection dome, ensuring optimal safety.

The system’s adaptive response capabilities are essential for airport operations, as it avoids interference with aircraft electronic systems. This unique feature sets ARMS apart in the market. Moreover, it seamlessly integrates with control tower systems, enhancing situational awareness and enabling rapid detection of unauthorized flying objects.

The challenges faced by London airports are not isolated incidents. Historical examples include the closure of Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport for an hour in August 2017 due to similar drone-related issues. Pilots continually report various incidents, creating uncertainty within the aviation sector—an industry heavily focused on safety.

The risk posed by drones extends beyond aviation, affecting numerous sectors, including industrial facilities, nuclear power plants, governmental buildings, prisons, sports stadiums, and any location hosting public events. Drones can invade personal privacy, conduct surveillance, launch attacks, or cause accidents through unexpected collisions with vehicles or individuals.

Despite their small size, which can be as little as a few centimeters, detecting and neutralizing drones presents substantial challenges, often leaving minimal time for reaction.

Developing an effective anti-drone solution mandates expertise in several fields, including radar technology, electronic defense, and communications. Understanding these domains is crucial for tailoring a protective ‘shield’ to each client’s specifications, as no two airports are alike, nor do they require identical protective measures.

Indra’s ARMS system features sophisticated radar and infrared cameras for detection and identification. Its electronic warfare sensors scan the radio spectrum to ascertain the type of communication link, frequency, and navigation system employed by the drone.

The operator manages the entire system from a centralized control position. Jamming equipment disrupts communication between the drone and its pilot, while blinding the drone’s navigation systems. Additionally, deception techniques, or spoofing, can be utilized to take control and guide the drone to a secure landing zone. Furthermore, the system can analyze the probable area of the operator’s location for potential apprehension. Advanced artificial intelligence enhances the accuracy of the system with each use.

Indra’s solution emphasizes soft-killing methods that ensure civil environment safety, neutralizing any drone model available today. Alternatively, hard-killing techniques can be integrated to take down drones when necessary. However, these methods are primarily military-focused, designed to combat advanced drones capable of autonomous flight without operator oversight. The operational costs and expertise required to deploy these military-grade techniques typically deter their application in civilian contexts.