Drones - Disruptive Operations and Countering: Vulnerabilities and Opportunities Training

A basic understanding of drones would be beneficial but not essential. Attendance with a clear understanding of the business problem the delegate wishes to address would be helpful.

This course is aimed at non-specialists in the drone or counter-drone fields, programme / project managers and those who have responsibilities for detection and defeating drones, or organisations seeking to understand current capabilities as part of a procurement activity.

The course aims to give delegates a solid grasp of how drone systems are designed, recent technological advances, and where the next capability enhancements are likely to be. We examine the effects of disruptive drone operations throughout the programme, counter-drone capabilities and an understanding of the vulnerabilities that may exist in a typical drone operation. Delegates will gain an understanding of what makes a drone a difficult target, and what is needed to close the current gap in capability between the drone and the systems seeking to detect and defeat.

Delegates will appreciate the imbalance between drone availability and counter-drone systems. They will understand the growing relationship between cyber and drones and consider where the next advances are likely to come from.

We aim for our delegates to leave the course better equipped to make informed decisions, and ask hard capability questions of systems vendors. Our delegates will understand operational and technical planning considerations, and ultimately deliver better capability to their users.

Delegates will leave the course with the following outcomes:

• Understand how drone systems are designed and constructed.
• Understand the differences between IT and OT elements.
• Appreciate the manner in which drones can be used for disruptive or nefarious purposes.
• Consider a number of real-world examples of drone operations.
• Understand where drones can be vulnerable.
• Understand the Industry perspective on counter-drone operations.
• Understand some of the legal and regulatory challenges
• Gain an appreciation of some of the latest industry solutions.
• Understand what questions need to be asked of potential solution providers.

Module 1 - Drone Technology.

This module helps delegates understand how drones work, and covers the following subjects:

• Understanding how drones work and the types of technology involved.
• Brief discussion about ground-based and sea (surface / sub surface) drones.
• Focus: A typical airborne system and some real-world examples.
• The blend IT and OT (Operational Technology) and the relevance of Intellectual Property.

Module 2 –The Good Operators and the Nefarious.

This module describes a range of drone operators that may be disruptive, hazardous or nefarious in nature. This module covers the following subjects:

• Legal drone operations: what is allowed for hobbyists and for professional operators.
• Understand the groupings of nefarious operators, their likely intentions and means.
• Disruptive drone operations: what this might look like.
• Typical real-world examples.

Module 3 - Where Drones Can Be Vulnerable.

This module describes key areas of drone and operator vulnerabilities, and covers the following subjects:

• Which elements of a drone system might be vulnerable.
• Key elements of detection, defeat and/or controls.
• Understand the imbalance: drone availability vs counter-drone systems.
• Appreciate which operator groups are susceptible to which controls.

Module 4 - Countering Drones – Industry Solutions.

This module details a number of currently-available industry solutions from an independent perspective, seeking ground truth on capabilities that can purchased today

• A number of exemplar solutions and hard questions to ask the solution vendors.
• Predictions in regards to drone development.
• Legal, regulatory and technology challenges: what stops us from defeating the devices?
• Where the next advances need to be, and the focus of research.