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by TheOtherHobbes 563 days ago
Military radar is set up to track big things. Small things close to the ground get lost in the clutter. The only way to track these drones is to follow them with other drones. And they're small enough and cheap enough to be disposable, so they don't need to return to a handler.

It's unwise to underestimate how dangerous these things are. One small explosive drone in the air intake of a B-2 or an F-35 is enough to cripple, perhaps destroy the plane.

2 comments

They clearly aren’t attacking anything (with explosives or otherwise); there is clearly no immediate danger to personnel or equipment. Rather than irrationally panicking, the wise move is to seize the opportunity to observe, collect data, and learn. There are far more ways to do so than using conventional radar or other drones. If the intent of the operator(s) is actually malicious, it was pretty unwise to essentially show your cards like this.
> Rather than irrationally panicking, the wise move is to seize the opportunity to observe, collect data, and learn

Unwanted incursions into your military bases should prompt fear. That fear, in turn, should drive a response that includes better deterrence, detection and neutralisation.

> Rather than irrationally panicking, the wise move is to seize the opportunity to observe, collect data, and learn

Unless you does this purely passively, you'll also be giving up information on your detection methods.

> If the intent of the operator(s) is actually malicious, it was pretty unwise to essentially show your cards like this

It's telling them to stop.

> Unwanted incursions into your military bases should prompt fear.

No, it shouldn’t. Military should respond based on doctrine, thought, and analysis not fear.

Look at the radar cross section of modern military aircraft. An F35 returns pretty much the same energy as a small commercial drone. These are trackable.