[Icybee]

Maybe security UAVs could be an answer?

If an unknown drone appears over a nuclear power plant, the plant could launch a UAV to follow it about until it goes home, watch who picks it up after it lands, and then just send in the police.

[justincormack]

It is somewhat unclear why they have failed to follow them with helicopters, did they just lose them? It is unclear if these are day or night flights though.

[oakwhiz]

I would imagine that chasing one of these "drones" (which is essentially a toy helicopter) using a real helicopter would be difficult, since the toy helicopter is smaller, more maneuverable, and more difficult to see. Sort of like trying to chase a bird using an airplane.

In addition, the toy helicopter would not be easy to see on radar, especially if it were to fly close to the ground.

[willvarfar]

Drones can be a serious hazard to larger aircraft. A drone could easily destroy a helicopter, rather like a bird strike can.

When the village of Laerdalsoyri burnt down in Norway in January the emergency services had to ground their own fire fighting helicopters because news drones were a hazard:

> police told Norwegian newspaper VG that a helicopter was being delayed because of suspected media drones taking pictures in the area.

> "It is important for us to stress that if someone is using drones, they must get them out of there," police spokesman Nils Erik Eggen said.

> "This could create a hazardous situation and may pose a danger to helicopters."

> The police could not say how many drones had been operating in the area.

So one could imagine a movie plot terrorist attack where unarmed drones fly over an airport and cause a total shutdown, or in the blockbuster version actually try and intercept a landing airliner.

[astrobe_]

This was a silly, unprepared answer anyway, just like the order to shoot them down. They've probably setup radio scanners and possibly jammers in order to intercept the video/command stream.

[lsaferite]

This is one I fail to understand.

With radio triangulation that should be able to pinpoint the controller. I know most of the newer control equipment is using spread spectrum and frequency hopping, but I imagine that is a solvable issue.

[robryk]

And they have to proceed to that point quickly enough to find the fellow operating it still there. Also, if I wished to avoid detection, I'd set up a transceiver linked to a data GSM connection and leave it in a random place in the middle of nowhere. Maybe even I'd have a few of those to confuse direction finding attempts (not sure how feasible that is).

[lsaferite]

Well, I would hope every nuclear power station has a rapid reaction security force on hand 24/7 the could respond to these 'threats'.

As for the misdirection, using cellular relay devices is something most wouldn't do and even if they did it would provide a lead that could be followed.

[p4bl0]

According to the interviewed expert in the video linked by audessuscest, they are night flights.

[tomjen3]

The drones are likely small and fly comparatively fast - I don't think following them in a chopper would be easy, certainly not if the person piloting the drone is skilled enough.

[throwwit]

They can be very fast... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa9dX1hkEYI (Amazing Stunts RC WORLD) -- Thought it was CG first time around.

[nraynaud]

I guess they are so small that they lost them from view.