Understanding Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs): Their Functioning and Mechanism
In the rapidly evolving world of drone technology, a significant concern has arisen: the use of drones as carriers for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These low-cost, easily deployable devices pose a serious threat to national security, public safety, and critical infrastructure.
To remain covert, these drones typically fly low and avoid radio frequency signals, using autonomous navigation to deliver their payloads with precision. However, modern counter-drone systems are increasingly sophisticated, employing a combination of radar, radio frequency triangulation, thermal imaging, optical cameras, and acoustic sensors to detect and identify such threats.
One such system is the AI-enabled multi-sensor fusion, which increases detection probability while reducing false alarms by analysing data from ground-penetrating radar, electro-optical/infrared cameras, and electromagnetic sensors. This approach is becoming increasingly common in both military and civilian high-security settings.
Once a threatening drone is detected, countermeasures often include radio frequency jamming or signal disruption, which can cause the drone to lose contact with its operator and either land or crash. High-speed interceptor drones, such as the "Gobi," are also being developed to crash into and disable suspicious drones in flight. Emerging technologies like high-power microwave and lasers can "fry" a drone’s electronics, causing it to fall out of the sky without a physical impact.
The Pentagon and allied forces are emphasising the need for integrated, scalable systems that can be quickly adapted and deployed across different military branches and operational environments. The modular design of countermeasures, such as the JCREW system, allows for easy upgrades and interoperability among allied forces.
As the top industries using thermal drone technology in 2025 are yet to be determined, the focus remains on ensuring public safety and national security in an increasingly complex threat landscape. Notable figures in the drone industry, such as Eno Umoh, the co-founder of Global Air Drone Academy (GADA), and Jacob Stoner, the CEO of Flyeye.io, are at the forefront of this effort, leading the way in innovation and expertise.
In conclusion, detecting and stopping drones carrying IEDs requires a layered defense strategy combining advanced detection technologies, electronic jamming, kinetic interception, and directed energy weapons. The focus is on affordability, speed, and scalability to counter the evolving and widespread drone threat.
Cybersecurity measures are being integrated into counter-drone systems to anticipate and address potential threats from drone hacks, as data-and-cloud-computing is extensively used in the control and navigation of drones. In the realm of general-news and crime-and-justice, the rise of drone-based crimes highlights the need for continual advancements in cybersecurity.
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