At present, the UAV laser pointer still needs to maintain communication with the operator or GPS. Therefore, the electronic jamming system can use this weakness to implement “soft kill” against the UAV threat, that is, eliminate the UAV’s operating state through hacking technology. However, future drones will navigate through on-board sensors and cameras, avoiding any available communication links. Therefore, the soft kill of electronic interference will fail, and the threat of drones will greatly increase. In order to deal with future drone threats, before they reach the target, there needs to be a “hard kill” option to actually target and shoot down the drone.
In fact, Israel has been suffering from airstrikes from balloons carrying incendiary bombs near the Gaza border in recent years. The most recent attack occurred in February 2020. When this type of airstrike began in 2018, Dr. Udi Ben-Ami, the co-founder of a technology solutions company based in Israel, contacted a professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev to find a solution.
In the end, the team led by the professor developed the “Blade of Light” laser pointer system. The Blade of Light can focus the laser beam on a point on the drone or balloon, and quickly burn and cut the target through the concentrated high energy, which can destroy the air. Humans, machines and other less complex aerial threats. It is understood that the Light Blade uses an eye-safe laser, which has already been used locally to cut plastic in greenhouse windows.
“Most high-energy laser defense systems need to clear the airspace within a few kilometers when they are working, so that the laser will not accidentally blind anyone. Our system can operate at a lower frequency, which makes it effective for the urban environment. Safe. Even if the airport fully covers our system, it is fully compliant with safety standards.” The professor said in a statement.
Recently, when the Light Blade system was paired with the Israel Defense Electronics Corporation Threat Detection System, the Light Blade system performed well. The professor said: “We successfully shot down all objects that entered our firepower range.” Currently, the professor and his colleagues are exploring the possibility of applying this technology to drones, which will involve enhanced tracking systems and green laser pointer power.