UAV Susceptibility and self-protection measures

Poster presentation at the 2016 Defence and Security Doctoral Symposium. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) has proliferated in the defence, security and scientific communities. Although still immature, the UAV market is the fastest growing sector of the defence industry, as senior and junior tactical military commanders request frequently both Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Close Air Support from unmanned aerial platforms. This increased dependence on UAVs, the associated attrition rate due to hostile fire and the high cost of sensors, communication equipment and weaponry will drive the requirement for UAV survivability. There is a need to develop background on the potential for UAVs to be equipped with self-protection systems. The aims of the research are to:· Investigate the threats to High and Medium Altitude Long Endurance (HALE and ALE) UAS and the spectrum, under which they operate.· Study where such protection systems can be installed and under which restrictions.·  Research payload capability, dispenser installation as well as countermeasure ejection geometry, to understand how the UAS can be better asked.· Run simulation of individual and sophisticated scenarios where UAS will employ self-protection dispensing and non-dispensing techniques against threats. · Extract practical and feasible techniques for UAS protection.