Staff Reports
As families gather around their tables, indulging in turkey slices and pumpkin pie, another American tradition is taking shape. No, it’s not just the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with its massive balloons and festive floats, nor is it the New Year’s mass gathering in Times Square. Rather, there’s a more pressing concern hovering above our skies, like an unwanted guest nobody invited to dinner—drones. These aren’t your tech-savvy neighbor’s Christmas presents, either. We’re talking about high-tech drones capable of military-style maneuvers, posing significant threats to public safety in large crowded events.
Imagine the latest scenes from Ukraine and Russia, where the grim reality of warfare is unfolding. Drones have become the cheap, yet devastating tools of subterfuge, able to swarm like bees and sting with precision. Such scenarios are not just from an action-packed movie but could become real threats during our very own holiday events if we’re not prepared. Drones have evolved to the point where they could easily outsmart defense systems designed to target singular threats. And here’s the twist: while our defense systems can intercept missiles, handling a swarm of coordinated drones is an entirely different ball game.
Thankfully, the FBI’s counter-drone team in New York believes they have a handle on things for big gatherings, thanks in part to some precautions including temporary flight restrictions. If a drone gatecrashes the no-fly zone, it can expect an unceremonious electronic takedown—or so they hope. However, this isn’t as comforting as it sounds, given the pace of drone technology innovation. These aren’t your backyard drones that can be taken out with electronic gadgets. We’re seeing drones from Ukraine with tactics that throw a wrench into electronic countermeasures by switching frequencies or tapping into fiber-optic communication, rendering them virtually untouchable by current defenses.
In a not-so-surprising twist of fate, the path forward involves more collaboration and training. Thanks to the Trump administration’s wise investment in beefing up drone defenses with a budget of $500 million to the Department of Homeland Security, efforts are underway to shore up security. FBI teams are sharing their wisdom with local law enforcement personnel, hoping to create a harmonious drone-defense choir. Yet, federal law still binds authorities in a bureaucratic maze where only federal agencies have the right to bring down drones from the sky. New York may be pleading for the baton, but it’s a dance with Congress they have to win first.
The specter of drones looms over any gathering of humanity, from Sunday sporting events to global spectacles like the World Cup and Olympics. As Brett Velikovich, a drone expert, ominously suggests, our air defense capabilities aren’t quite capable of fending off a determined drone attack. It’s like knowing you need glasses but hoping you can still read that eye chart just fine. It’s high time they focus on such technological threats before facing a not-so-merry drone-laden surprise. With luck, foresight, and perhaps a bit of legislative maneuvering, they’ll be able to toast the New Year under clear skies, drone free.
