Protecting the Airspace From Drones

New types of commercial drones are constantly entering the market and their capabilities are expanding. They are faster, quieter, carry heavier payloads and the threats they represent are changing accordingly. The Israeli security firm Sentrycs addresses these challenges with continuously updated technology.

It is little surprise that drug cartels around the world use drones to gather information on security patrols and police vehicle routes around seaports for example. An unidentified South American cartel recently attempted to do just this, determining when the port was unguarded and police presence was minimal in order to smuggle drugs concealed in containers destined for sea transport. That port authority recognized the urgency of securing its airspace, and implementing ways of detecting, tracking, identifying, and neutralizing unauthorized drones, and locating their operators. They turned to Sentrycs, an Israeli company with extensive expertise in developing and producing defense solutions against unauthorized drones. Established in 2017 and restructured in 2022 under senior executives, CEO Yoav Zaltzman and COO Tal Cohen, it caters to both the civilian and military markets, with its advanced and adaptive counter-drone technology, enjoying a well-earned reputation in this niche market. Since restructuring, Sentrycs has enhanced its capabilities in non-military civil and urban environments, serving energy plants, airports, prisons, stadiums, ports, governmental sites and other sensitive facilities. Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago and Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, however, emphasized the imperative of addressing military threats, both domestically and internationally. "Despite expectations of greater civilian market potential, current conflicts have directed otherwise, and about half of our deployments are in the military market," says Boker. "But along with our support for military forces and protection of military bases, we continue to work with sensitive civilian infrastructure such as ports and borders, with prisons and safeguarding critical structures or events such as major sports gatherings and festivals in large stadiums."

The changing face of the threat

Sentrycs is a privately held company owned by the US-based TREO Management Private Equity Fund, employing some 100 people in Israel and abroad. Its counter-drone solutions focus on commercial and Do-it-Yourself drone kits , using off-the-shelf communication protocols. "Drones must be physically examined to be analyzed," explains Boker. "Because we have no access to military UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles], we support a comprehensive drone library, encompassing all major commercially available models. We update our library at least four times a year, and sometimes more often than that." Securing airspace against drones involves two broad categories of response. One is detecting, tracking and identifying the UAV. The other is neutralizing it or taking control of it in different ways.

Sentrycs uniquely integrates both these responses into its proprietary technology, as well as locating the operator. "We detect, track and identify each drone with precise data such as its location, altitude, speed and serial number, " says Boker. "We can assume control over it, when opportune, and land it safely." The Sentrycs system is autonomous, in operation 24/7 without human intervention, providing real-time drone detection alerts. Technologically open, it easily integrates with other systems. Entities large and small collaborate with Sentrycs, sometimes integrating its solutions into larger frameworks. "In the military sector, particularly in detection and identification, our systems play a pivotal role within a multi-layered ecosystem, serving as a first line of defense against drones," notes Boker.In a constantly changing market, the name of the game is speed of response. "The major drone manufacturers are constantly creating new and different types of drone with constantly upgraded capabilities," says Boker. "They're faster, quieter and carry heavier payloads. Hence, the face of the threat continually evolves, and it's our job to meet this challenge by updating our technology apace."

Distinguishing between friendly and hostile drones

In urban settings, there's potential for collatera damage if drones land in crowded areas or carry explosives, says Boker. "Our approach is to take control of the intruder and direct it to a predetermined safe landing site, rather than shoot it down indiscriminately. Our detection and identification capabilities hinge on analyzing the communication between drones and their operator, enabling us to differentiate between friendly and hostile UAVs. If it's friendly, we don't interfere. But if it's not on our 'whitelist,' we take control and mitigate it. This capability is crucial, she says, because we envision a future where drones are ubiquitous — used, for many applications, from pizza delivery to more efficient first-responder missions. "In order to get there, as with any emerging technology, we must navigate challenges and safeguard our airspace."

Further capabilities

Sentrycs's main clients are government agencies and security organizations, with their authorization to use counter drone equipment varying by jurisdiction. In Israel, despite the technology being defensive and non-aggressive, its authorization lies with the country's Defense Export Control Agency (DECA). In the United States, there is no universal authorization for drone takeover, although Sentrycs technology has already been tested by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Sentrycs is advocating for legislative changes so that it can broaden its reach. It sees its technology as a central tool for law enforcement and for securing private sensitive sites, helping safeguard critical infrastructure and strategic installations, prevent smuggling (of drugs and more), and guard against espionage. The company markets widely, represented at exhibitions and conferences, demonstrating what it has to offer around the world. "We want the market not only to know us and what we have to offer, but also to raise awareness to the threats out there," says Boker. "We show end users and decision makers that there's an innovative and cutting edge technology that can help them, far beyond the capabilities of jamming and radar."

Next-generation Sentrycs technology

As threats evolve, Sentrycs technology keeps up in a fast-changing landscape. One recent development is the support of First Person View (FPV) drones, which are operated with virtual reality glasses and capable of speeds of up to 200 km/h. "Our systems are equipped to handle them, and any future commercial drone out there," says Boker. "In our latest product version, we've incorporated a new capability that helps analyze a drone's ISR intent, an insight whose importance has been insufficiently recognized," says the company's vice president for marketing, Audelia Boker. "Our goal is to extend our coverage comprehensively, offering full protection across a broad area."