IAI Drone Guard gets guard drones

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has integrated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as interceptors in its Drone Guard counter-UAV system after signing an agreement with Iron Drone.The Iron Drone interceptor UAV that has been integrated with IAI’s Drone Guard

The Iron Drone interceptor that has been integrated with Drone Guard without the wires that help it entangle its target. (Israel Aerospace Industries)

The intercepting drone can be launched during day or night from a docking station that hosts several ready-to-use drones,” the two companies said in a joint statement released on 29 June. “Several intercepting drones can be launched simultaneously to address several targets or swarms.

Developed by IAI’s ELTA division to counter small, commercial UAVs that intrude into controlled airspace or carry explosive devices, Drone Guard uses radar and electro-optical (EO) systems to detect and track threats, with radio-frequency jammers disrupting their communications and GPS signals. IAI says that more than 100 Drone Guards have already been sold worldwide.

Now customers have the option of adding Iron Drone UAVs that home in on and crash into the target. They deploy wires to ensure both UAVs become entangled and fall to the ground. “This way, we make sure there is no chance that the target drone can continue to fly, Iron Drone CEO Matan Melamed told Janes.

Our drone is connected to ELTA's system. As soon as the operator decides to activate it, a button is pressed, and the drone takes off in the direction of the target. It gets target information from Drone Guard's radar and other sensors. As it flies to the target, it uses its own day-and-night EO sensor to lock on and continues with high accuracy until it strikes the target, he added.