Consumer drones used in bomb attacks

Abstract

Terrorist rebels are turning consumer drones into deadly weapons. The article investigates why it goes on and what can be done about it. Hobbyists are having a lot fun modifying drones and they post their tutorials online. Hundreds of them show how to retrofit consumer drones with remote-controlled drop mechanisms to release devices in mid-air. But the hobbyists aren't alone. Inspired by the same logic, rebel groups in battle zones such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen and now Afghanistan, retrofit drones to drop explosives on human targets, spreading fear and feeding a growing propaganda machine. For a credible point defence system, developments in lasers (not necessarily high-powered ones) and high-power microwave (HPM), seem promising. For lasers specifically, the hope is that via tracking of a target drone the laser can then emit hot light to melt inexpensive plastic parts and bring it down. It is concluded that it may not be possible to ensure a 100 per cent hostile-drone-free airspace because it just isn't feasible to have countermeasures everywhere.