Why America’s Air Force Leads the Way on Countering Enemy Drone Technology (from The National Interest)

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in the hands of this country’s adversaries, both states and terrorist organizations, pose a severe and growing challenge to the U.S. military. The proliferation of drones to hostile states and groups is altering the tactical battle space. For the first time, non-state adversaries have an air force. Drones provide terrorists and insurgents with critical intelligence and targeting information. Loaded with even a few pounds of explosives, drones are precision-guided weapons. A system to counter this threat must detect small flying objects, successfully engage them and do so cost-effectively.  The U.S. Air Force is deploying such a system.  I have written a commentary on this new capability here.