Chilean Protestors Down Drone By Dazzling It With Dozens Of Laser Pointers

[Judi Lynn]

Chilean Protestors Down Drone By Dazzling It With Dozens Of Laser Pointers
The protestors were definitely onto something as laser dazzlers are quickly becoming a major component of drone defenses.
BY TYLER ROGOWAY NOVEMBER 14, 2019
THE WAR ZONE

ne of the key topics we discuss here at The War Zone constantly is counter-drone and short-range air defense capabilities, or the glaring lack thereof, and other directed energy defensive systems. One such capability that is emerging as an immediately obtainable and potentially robust solution to countering some drones and missiles that rely on electro-optical and infrared guidance systems are laser dazzlers. Basically, they fire a modulated laser beam at the target, blinding its optical sensors and throwing it off track and even downing it as a result. They can also be used to limit an enemy's ability to gather intelligence via manned platforms by blinding their sensors. It looks like a very low-end and impromptu version of this concept was put to work by Chilean protesters very recently.

The video, which appeared on social media earlier in the week, shows a large gathering of protesters shining high-powered handheld laser pointers, which have been used by protesters recently to deter riot police and blind facial recognition cameras, at a drone overhead. Those devices, shining at the drone's optics from all different angles, sent it wobbling through the air, before briefly recovering, just to nosedive again and crash into the ground. Check out the video for yourself:

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https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/31048/chilean-protestors-down-drone-by-dazzling-it-with-dozens-of-laser-pointers

[Ferryboat]

1. What a elegant solution.

[dware]

2. Well, I'll bet the manufacturers of the drone,

nor the operators, saw that one coming.