Drone Jamming Effectiveness at Airports

Power of Jamming: The effectiveness of jamming depends on the power of the signal. If the drone’s GPS or control signal is strong enough, jamming can be ineffective, especially if the drone is beyond the airfield’s perimeter or far from the jammer.

Real Estate and Coverage: Airports, due to their large and complex layouts, may need multiple jammers to ensure full coverage. Fixed jammers could be complemented by mobile jammers or police quick reaction forces (QRF), but the unpredictable flight paths of drones make this a challenging task.

Flight Paths: Drones flying along approach or departure paths pose significant risks to aircraft, even if they are outside the airport’s boundary. Jamming these drones might disrupt communications or operations in public areas, requiring careful coordination.

Control of the Drone: Jamming doesn’t take control of the drone; it merely blocks the pilot’s ability to control it. This can lead to the drone performing programmed emergency actions (e.g., landing or hovering), which can create risks for air traffic and ground operations if the drone is out of control.