Israel’s military and tech industry are racing to counter the latest threat from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah: fiber-optic, first-person view (FPV) drones. These drones have been used to attack Israeli soldiers and bases, with at least 12 soldiers killed since March.

The Drone Threat

The drones are extremely difficult to detect because they do not emit any radio signals, making them immune to electronic warfare methods. They are also very small, often no larger than a dinner plate, and can be controlled by a pilot using a spool of fiber-optic cable.

The Israeli military has begun to deploy mesh netting to protect troops and bases, and has also provided soldiers with shotguns and fragmenting rounds to take down approaching drones. However, the military has yet to disclose how it plans to improve its ability to identify and track these drones.

Technological Solutions

Several tech companies, including Airwayz, are working on developing non-radio frequency sensors to identify fiber-optic drones. Airwayz has developed software that can manage low-altitude airspace and identify potential threats, which was recently used by the Miami Police Department to protect a FIFA World Cup stadium from drone threats.

Experts say that multiple types of sensors are often needed simultaneously to accurately identify incoming threats, including optical, acoustic, radar, and laser-based systems. Airwayz’s system fuses data from multiple sensors to rapidly identify friendly and hostile drones alike.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.