Urgent need to tackle proliferation of drone technology, Dubai police summit hears

Their use by bad actors in region as well as to disrupt airports and events around the world shows need for effective responses

Officials and experts from around the world are meeting in Dubai for the inaugural World Police Summit. Victor Besa / The National

An exhibit at the G42 Smart Nation stand. Victor Besa / The National

A robot from Expert Hub Robotics stationed in front of the Ghiath Dubai Police vehicle. Victor Besa / The National

The event at Expo 2020 Dubai is bringing together participants from more than 50 countries. Victor Besa / The National

An exhibit at the Dubai Police stand. Victor Besa / The National

The Chaser 1200 B6 armoured patrol boat by Aksum Marine. Victor Besa / The National

A side view of the Chaser 1200 B6. Victor Besa / The National

The armoured AB-950 by Streit Group. Victor Besa / The National

A drone at the Advanced Media stand. Victor Besa / The National

The MSPV Panthera F10 5DR armoured personnel carrier. Victor Besa / The National

A device made by G42 Smart Nation, the artificial intelligence and cloud computing company. Victor Besa / The National

The K9 Vision System, a canine camera device. Victor Besa / The National

Inkas Titan DS SWAT. Victor Besa / The National

Exhibits at the Hytera stand. Victor Besa / The National

A Mavic 2 drone at the Advanced Media and DJI stand. Victor Besa / The National

Governments and organisations must develop more effective counter-drone management to combat a surge in aerial security incidents around the globe, an expert has said.

Shaun Ryles, counter-drone team lead at British consultancy Global Security and Disaster Management, said attacks in Saudi Arabia and other incidents, such as the infamous 2018 drone episode at the UK's Gatwick Airport, showed how dangerous and disruptive they could be.

Speaking at the World Police Summit in Dubai on Monday, Mr Ryles said tighter regulation of recreational drone use and new legislation to tackle criminal activity would help address the issue.

“Devastating fixed-wing drone attacks on Middle East oil refinery facilities, oil tankers and airports has unfortunately highlighted the need to be more robustly prepared,” he said.

Devastating fixed-wing drone attacks on Middle East oil refinery facilities, oil tankers and airports has unfortunately highlighted the need to be more robustly prepared.

Shaun Ryles,
Global Security and Disaster Management

“The common thread will be one of the organisation thriving and surviving in the face of that disruption.

“Highly resilient organisations are more likely to secure more successful strategic and operational outcomes in the face of severe disruptions, [causing less impact] on the economy.”

Mr Ryles said governments, policing authorities and private sector players will be needed to counter drone attacks.

Mr Ryles said better resilience planning meant organisations could anticipate, prepare for and respond and adapt to everything from minor everyday events, brought on by drone hobbyists, to larger threats and attacks by criminals.

To stay ahead of threats, companies need to regularly review their systems, processes, training, equipment needs, he said.

He referred to the drone incident at Gatwick Airport that resulted in the airport being shut down for two days. More than 1,000 flights were disrupted, affecting close to 140,000 passengers.

The Gatwick incident was the first time a major airport had been shut down by drone activity.

Mr Ryles said better management would have significantly decreased the disruption that was caused.

“There are many external security protocols that can significantly add to a mitigation plan,” said Mr Ryles.

“A resilient approach will by its nature also address the key components of crisis communication, and aftermath management which technology alone will not address.

“This was certainly a very dear lesson that was learnt at Gatwick years ago.

“Whatever the outcome of the drone incursion, there will always be a need to justify actions or restraints in the aftermath.

“One of the most striking and recurring themes that I've encountered working in the front line of counter drone activities has been the disproportionate benefits to be had from relatively modest investment in counter-drone education, training and awareness of the counter-drone technology landscape.”

He said investment in this area creates “more informed and less reactive procurement decision making” when dealing with drone attacks, which in turn instils a better understanding of the threat and risk landscape.

The World Police Summit continues until Thursday.

World's biggest drones - in pictures

American sailors move a US Navy X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrator on to an elevator aboard the aircraft carrier ‘USS George H.W. Bush’ in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was the first to successfully catapult-launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. Photo: US Navy

An RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft like the one shown is currently flying non-military mapping missions over South America, Central America and the Caribbean at the request of partner nations in the region. Photo: US Air Force / Bobbi Zapka

A still image, taken from a video footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry, shows a Russian Altius-U military long-range unmanned aerial vehicle during a test flight at an unknown location. Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / Handout via Reuters

The first joint flight of a Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle and a Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter. As part of a testing programme, Okhotnik has performed a fully unmanned flight into an airborne alert area. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry / Tass

A screengrab of an S-70 unmanned combat air vehicle.

The Lockheed Martin SR-72, sometimes called Son of Blackbird, is a US hypersonic UAV drone intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Photo: Lockheed Martin

A team of 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Airmen walk beside an RQ-4 Global Hawk drone. EPA

An X-47B pilot-less drone is launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.