ELKRIDGE, MD. & RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA-- March 10, 2022 -- In a new whitepaper, Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), finds that a multi-layered approach, incorporating common architectures and information sharing, among other imperatives, is needed to address the threat to life and property posed by weaponized use of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS).

In January, non-state actors from Yemen utilized small unmanned aerial systems to launch deadly attacks in the United Arab Emirates that destroyed three refueling vehicles and damaged Abu Dhabi’s international airport. Other drone incidents in the Persian Gulf region include a 2019 strike on the world’s largest oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia.

The whitepaper, ‘The Big Problem with Small Drones (and How to Address It),’ examines how governments worldwide face a growing need for flexible, tailorable, and affordable Counter-sUAS (C-sUAS) solutions. It looks at current C-sUAS strategy, identifies key challenges, and outlines the critical capabilities governments should consider.

“There’s no ‘silver bullet’ when it comes to countering the huge risks presented by weaponized drones in the hands of bad actors,” said Dr. David Cullin, vice president and general manager of Unmanned and Integrated Solutions at Teledyne FLIR Defense. “What we’ve learned is that governments must address a host of challenges in concert to optimize their defense readiness in the face of UAS attacks.

“Nations around the globe are spending millions of dollars on commercially-built counter-drone solutions to address the immediate risks posed by these threats. But they need to approach the problem smartly, both from a technology and cost perspective. Our new whitepaper offers a number of insights from our team of experts,” Cullin adds.