The Australian Federal Police are seeking ongoing authorisation to use so-called drone-jamming capabilities that can be used to disable remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and similar unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). <\/p>\n
Drone jamming devices target the frequencies used by an operator to control a drone, which generally leads to the drone either landing or returning to the point where it was launched. <\/p>\n
The AFP has been working closely with the relevant regulator \u2014 the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) \u2014 to seek an exemption from rules governing wireless interference. <\/p>\n
Currently there are two ACMA declarations governing jamming devices: The Radiocommunications (Prohibited Device) (RNSS Jamming Devices) Declaration 2014<\/em> and the Radiocommunications (Prohibition of PMTS Jamming Devices) Declaration 2011<\/em>. <\/p>\n The former deals with frequencies used by satellite navigation services such as GPS (radionavigation-satellite service, or RNSS). The latter bans mobile phone jammers (a \u2018PMTS\u2019 is a public mobile telecommunications service).<\/p>\n Last year the ACMA issued temporary authorisation for the AFP to employ drone-jamming devices as part of providing security for the Invictus Games in Sydney. <\/p>\n The regulator authorised the AFP to use anti-drone measures in \u2018temporary restricted areas\u2019 declared by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Airspace Regulations 2007<\/em>. <\/p>\n The authorisation, which expired in early November, exempted the AFP from rules that would otherwise prohibit the use of devices that could be used to disrupt drone control systems that employ the 2400-2483MHz or 5725-5850MHz bands. <\/p>\n The ACMA is currently considering a potential two-year exemption for the AFP that would allow the law enforcement agency to quickly deploy drone-jamming capabilities at short notice. <\/p>\n The exemption would apply to RNSS jammers \u2014 although the devices the AFP intends to use aren\u2019t intended to jam RNSS frequencies, according to the ACMA they are prohibited devices because they are capable of RNSS jamming. The prohibition on PMTS jammers would remain, and the AFP would not be authorised to disrupt drone communications that used RNSS frequencies for control. <\/p>\n The ACMA has acknowledged that the AFP capabilities could interfere with a wide range of services, including Wi-Fi networks and bands that are designated for use by industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications. <\/p>\n \u201cGiven the ubiquity of Wi-Fi and other devices authorised by the class licence, we have considered that these are the devices that would be most likely to be affected by incidental interference caused by activation of the jamming device,\u201d the regulator said in a document seeking input on its proposed exemption for the AFP. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have considered the consequences associated with those services suffering incidental interference. Although a device operated under the class licence is generally not expected to suffer interference… the ACMA has a \u2018no protection\u2019 policy regarding the class licence. Under the ACMA\u2019s \u2018no protection\u2019 policy, devices operating under the class licence are not afforded protection from interference that may be caused by ISM applications in the ISM bands.\u201d <\/p>\n The ACMA has indicated that its current view is the public benefit of being able to disrupt a drone, which would be expected to take place over a relatively short period in a confined area, outweighs the potential adverse impact. <\/p>\n An AFP spokesperson told Computerworld<\/em> the organisation would seek to deploy counter-RPAS capabilities, including drone jamming, in a \u201cvariety of operational circumstances\u201d \u2014 those could include \u201cthe protection of major events or places of mass gathering, programmed police operations, or in response to an incident\u201d. <\/p>\n In addition to interfering with frequencies used to control UAVs, counter-drone systems can offer detection capabilities that use technologies such as radar, infrared, RF, audio and visual scanning to locate and identify drones. <\/p>\n The AFP spokesperson said that to \u201cprotect the integrity of its operational activities\u201d the organisation would not comment \u201con operational methodologies or the full scope of its capabilities\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cThe AFP works with its national security partners to protect Australians and Australian interests from terrorism,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cThe AFP is a capability led organisation and will continue to develop and utilise advanced technical capabilities to achieve its national security objectives.\u201d <\/p>\n