Counter Drone Technology
- quzion9
- Oct 1, 2025
- 2 min read
Written by Isaac Lee
September 30th, 2025
Drones are evolving as one of the fastest pieces of technology in today’s world. The potential of drones can benefit not only the movie industry with the various perspectives it can unlock but also fields such as espionage, delivery, and even war. Therefore, with every rapidly-advancing technology, there exists engineers or scientists rushing to create a counter. As of today’s technology, the counter drone technology revolves around sensors, cameras, and radar.
History of Counter Drone Technology
Drones generally were considered to be invented around the beginning of the 20th century. However, these drones were very different from the ones that operate in today’s sky. In the past, the drone meant that it did not require the use of a live pilot and could operate remotely. Unlike the somewhat certain start of drones, counter drone technology cannot be traced to one singular place or even time period. Although counter drone technology uses various technologies such as sensors and radars, the definition is unclear. Various sites mention how it is amalgamation of using technologies to detect unauthorized drones and to neutralize said drones.
At the turn of the millennium, drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) became used much more often for surveying and reconnaissance. As this technology became much more advanced, the counters for these countries reactively grew. In the case of the USA, they initiated the “Black Dart” in 2002 (securitymagazine.com). These were various trials to counter any air technology that was unmanned, which included drones. Eventually, the technology evolved into utilizing energy to disable drones, meaning lasers were placed as defense mechanisms.
Visual cartoon displaying how lasers can counter UAVs (https://www.idsa.in/publisher/comments/counter-drone-systems-a-primer)
Types of Counter Drone Technology
Lasers are one of the many ways drones can be countered. In fact, lasers simply fall into the direct energy weapon but there even exists some counters that use the concept of jamming, which means to deliberately ruin the signal. In fact, some advanced systems can even hack the drone by overriding commands. On the other hand, kinetic countermeasures use missiles, guns, and even explosives to destroy the drone. Similarly, there exist net systems that catch the drone, bringing it towards the ground. However, much of the counter drone technology employed today uses various combinations of said types.
Although the counter drone technology suggests it stays stationary like various sentry stations, it can actually be manually controlled. For instance, the DroneGun Tactical is a handheld device that can physically be aimed at the sky, disrupting any harm that the drones can create (roboticsbiz.com). Like the name suggests, it is a gun, but resembles more of a bazooka with the barrel being as large as a human torso.
Conclusion
Drones continue to pose greater threats as they become more efficient, stealthier, and even cheaper. However, companies are taking initiative by creating counter drone technologies, through various methods such as stations, weapons, or even drones that have the sole purpose of neutralizing other drones. With the various types of protection, humanity can ensure our safety from drones, as long as counter drone technology can evolve.
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