Drones (or UAVs) will continue to be a massive growth sector as new uses continue to be found and key beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) trials get underway around the world.
How do we integrate drones into today's complex airspace? (NASA)
Airbus is bringing a number of drones to exhibit, including the Aliaca, DVF 2000 ER, and Eurodrone MALE mock-up. Among the many other drone systems on display will be the Asman Technology Arla 600, Phaeton 200, Azur Drones Flying Guard and Turkish Aerospace Anka. Leonardo is set to unveil a new 24hr endurance version of its Falco UAV, while Israel’s IAI will launch a new version of its Heron UAV – the Tactical Heron or T-Heron.
However, if half the exhibitors at Le Bourget are showing off new drones, the other half (and sometimes the same companies) are increasingly exhibiting ways in which to bring these UAVs down with increasingly sophisticated counter drone technology. Armed drone attacks in Syria, Venezuela and Yemen have all shown the viability of asymmetric attacks like these. The drone may not even need to be armed – the Gatwick Airport shutdown in the UK in December last year has been a wake-up call that governments are still behind the curve when it comes to defending against ‘rogue UAVs’.