Oky, so I've actually had a really hard time finding out what type of drones they're using. What I did get is this report - with some pictures and stats: http://www.iapf.org/images/documents/niassa.pdf
Perhaps someone else can identify it, but from it's specs, it looks like it can probably fly reasonably high... if it can manage 6-8 hours at 400km range, it looks like it kind of slots in somewhat below http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScanEagle in terms of performance (and cost).
From that guess, I'm thinking that this sucker is flying well over a mile high, which makes most gun approaches (unless they brought in a whole anti-aircraft platform...) pretty unfeasible. In any case, the cost of shooting down one of these would be pretty high - you would almost certainly need a weapon with guidance somehow (ie, a missile, which is going to really cut into your profit margins), extreme luck and patience, or lug around anti-aircraft platforms... which might not actually be out of the picture.
One of the things this article doesn't really tap into is how the nature of the poachers themselves are changing. The poachers themselves are becoming more militarized (as are the wardens now), partly due to the hilarious amounts of money poaching generates - it apparently, they represent a significant revenue stream for various African Paramilitary groups. http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/rhino-horn-crisis-and-the-d...
In any case, like most illict trades, constraining the supply rarely makes the problem go away - you gotta shutdown the demand somehow.
Wow, that's the first time I've ever seen that figure (for rhino horn). We were doing programs for totally different animals, and presumably different markets, but the magnitude of that number is completely contrary to our experience. Only further evidence that one-size-fits-all solutions are not always as generalized as they might seem.
I would not use a rocket. If you can see or hear that drone, you can fly your own drone into it, or have it explode nearby it. Such a attacker drone would not need 20 hours endurance, so it would be a lot cheaper.
That "If you can see or hear that drone" probably is where the problem lies, but that might be solved by having your drone listen for the distinctive hum of the drone's engines. That way, you don't have to be able to continuously see that drone from the ground. Just launch your own drone; if it hears another drone, it will home in on it.
Alternatively, I would try jamming the drone's signals or taking over its controls.
Well, maybe the label of terrorist is a bit extreme. But why the hell should you be able to maliciously broadcast an incorrect GPS signal with the intent of destruction of property (which may btw, put other bystanders in harms way as well) not be viewed as some sort of... at least incorrect act. It is pretty sad that they jump to the label terrorist. But it's not the least reasonable use of the label.
In any case, such an attack is unlikely to work. The crash into the ground is least likely to work since most drones will likely have an independent altitude information. The stall method may work - if the drone has no INS and the operator is asleep.
Exactly is a constant legal dispute :) However, the FCC pretty unarguably has authority over use of radio spectra, especially when that use is malicious. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCC#Regulatory_powers_and_enfo... They get to determine who gets to use what spectrum, where, at what power, and for what purposes.
Yes, of course, I have the same fear. Some might think you a terrorist for merely conceiving of such things. But, I think it's easier to evade detection while making the GPS attack, than by firing at it with a rifle, in which case it could potentially take a photograph of you in the act. Not to mention the possibility of stray rifle bullets flying through the air, and wounded drones crashing uncontrollably.
Perhaps someone else can identify it, but from it's specs, it looks like it can probably fly reasonably high... if it can manage 6-8 hours at 400km range, it looks like it kind of slots in somewhat below http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScanEagle in terms of performance (and cost).
From that guess, I'm thinking that this sucker is flying well over a mile high, which makes most gun approaches (unless they brought in a whole anti-aircraft platform...) pretty unfeasible. In any case, the cost of shooting down one of these would be pretty high - you would almost certainly need a weapon with guidance somehow (ie, a missile, which is going to really cut into your profit margins), extreme luck and patience, or lug around anti-aircraft platforms... which might not actually be out of the picture.
One of the things this article doesn't really tap into is how the nature of the poachers themselves are changing. The poachers themselves are becoming more militarized (as are the wardens now), partly due to the hilarious amounts of money poaching generates - it apparently, they represent a significant revenue stream for various African Paramilitary groups. http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/rhino-horn-crisis-and-the-d...
In any case, like most illict trades, constraining the supply rarely makes the problem go away - you gotta shutdown the demand somehow.