Secret military technology helps protect Trump's inauguration

The US Secret Service must apply many modern technologies to neutralize the threat from remote-controlled flying devices such as flycam.

DroneShield's radio wave gun. Photo: NBC News

As hundreds of thousands of people gather in Washington DC to watch President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the US Secret Service is facing a new threat from drones. The US Department of Homeland Security said it is deploying defense technologies to counter this threat, NBC News reported on January 19.

Drones have become increasingly popular over the years, but they can be dangerous in the wrong hands. The Islamic State (IS) has used explosive-laden drones to attack Iraqi security forces, killing and injuring so many that US special forces have dubbed them “flying homemade bombs.”

This has made security forces in Washington DC pay special attention to drones during Donald Trump's inauguration. "Drones are completely banned in Washington DC airspace. This is something we have planned for, and we also have the technology to handle them," said US Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. However, he refused to disclose US anti-drone technology.

Experts say it is difficult to detect small drones, let alone deploy ground-based interceptors. Traditional radars are ineffective, as they can easily confuse birds with drones.

In addition to the Department of Homeland Security, several private companies are developing their own anti-drone technology. DroneShield uses a series of microphones to detect the sound of a drone’s engine, then takes control or jams it with a radio-beam gun.

The system has proven effective in Australia and Türkiye. However, jamming signals in the US requires permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Currently, only the US military and secret service are allowed to use DroneShield technology.

According to VNE