Terra Drone to develop C-UAS system to protect critical infrastructure in peacetime
Terra Drone, a leading drone and urban air mobility technology company headquartered in Japan, has announced that it has begun developing a counter-unmanned aircraft system designed to protect critical infrastructure from intrusion and attack by malicious drones during peacetime.
The infrastructure that is to be protected by the new system includes oil and gas facilities, power plants, transmission and distribution infrastructure, airports, ports, telecommunications facilities and logistics hubs, according to a press release published by Terra Drone on 31 August.
"The system will build on technologies Terra Drone is developing for defence applications, including interceptor drones, autonomous flight, AI-based target tracking, sensor integration and command-and-control," Terra Drone said. "These technologies will be adapted into an integrated solution optimised for the safety, operational requirements and economics of civilian critical infrastructure protection."
Terra Drone’s C-UAS system will be designed as an integrated solution that detects, identifies and tracks suspicious drones entering low-altitude airspace around critical infrastructure and, where necessary, responds using interceptor drones and other countermeasures.
The company also wrote that they will therefore develop the system with an emphasis not only on interception capability, but also on operational safety to protect "employees, local residents, vehicles, aircraft, vessels and other third parties", prevent unintended engagement, reduce operator workload, and allow for integration with existing security systems and maintainability.
