How drones are taken down – from nets and metal cages to jammers

Drones have become a defining weapon of modern conflict, from Ukraine's frontlines to suspected sightings at Europe's busiest airports. According to The Conversation, militaries worldwide are deploying increasingly sophisticated countermeasures—radar and AI-guided tracking systems to detect threats, radio-frequency jammers to disable communications, and kinetic options ranging from lasers to metal nets. But the Ukraine conflict illustrates a persistent problem: as one side adapts, the other follows. When Ukrainian forces deployed jammers to disrupt radio links, Russian forces switched to fibre-optic-controlled drones, rendering the jammers useless. Experts say there's no single solution; instead, effective defense requires layered approaches tailored to each location—a messy, evolving arms race with no end in sight.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton