Drone Jammers: An Inside Look at Counter UAS Technology for Drone Pilots

A drone jammer—also called a drone jammer gun—is a device designed to bring a drone to the ground.

It works by disrupting the radio signal that controls a drone, allowing you to ground them by blocking their communication system.

The drone industry is currently experiencing exponential growth with no signs of slowing down.

But with all these drones in the air, there’s now a big challenge—how do you keep drones out of restricted airspace?

The FAA has worked hard to ensure both drone pilots and the general public adapt to the evolutionary phase we’re currently experiencing.

But despite its best efforts, the introduction of drones into commercial airspace hasn’t been entirely smooth, and rogue drone incidents seem to be happening more and more frequently over sports events, at airports, and elsewhere.

[Related read: Can You Shoot Down a Drone Over Your Property? And What Do You Do If Someone Shoots at Your Drone?]

In this article, we are going to cover what drone jammers are, the top drone jammers on the market, the legality of using them, and whether or not you need to be worried about encountering one as a drone pilot.

Here’s a menu in case you’d like to jump around:

• What Is a Drone Jammer?
• Types of Drone Jammers
• Top Drone Jammers on the Market
• Are Drone Jammers Legal?
• Where Drone Jammers Are Being Used
• What Drone Pilots Should Know about Drone Jammers
• Future of Drone Jamming Technology

What Is a Drone Jammer?

A drone jammer gun is a gun-looking device made to bring a drone to the ground.

How Does a Drone Jammer Gun Work?

A drone jammer works by sending electromagnetic noise at radio frequencies with the purpose of overriding the same radio and GPS signals your drone uses to operate.

A drone jammer gun’s frequency is generally assigned at 2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz which are public frequencies non-assigned to manned aircraft, public broadcasts or cell phone signals.

Credit: DRONEKILLER

Drone jammer guns will often look similar to guns (see above) and operate by projecting the jammer signal in the shape of a cone of about 15-30 degrees.

When a drone gets hit with the jammer’s signal, the most common response is for the drone to return back to its point of origin (unless GPS is also jammed), giving the jammer operator the option to track the drone back to the pilot. In some cases, a drone jammer may cause the drone to land on the spot in order to conduct a forensic investigation.

The most heavy-duty drone jammers on the market can work from up to almost a mile away and are increasingly more effective as the pilot’s remote gets further from the drone.

Alternative CUAS

Drone jammer guns are actually a win-win for both drone pilots and controlling agencies, since they typically preserve the drone and present fewer risks than other drone countermeasures.

Drone jamming by radio signal is the preferred and safest method for controlling rogue UAVs.

Here are some other ways to deal with a rogue drone:

• Drone netting. If a drone breaches a jamming signal, depending on the situation, larger drones carrying nets can be deployed to physically snare a rogue UAV and bring it out of the sky. In this scenario, a drone falling from the sky is more likely, and the pilot will probably not get the drone back in one piece, if at all.
• Shoot the drone down. During the South Korean Olympic games in 2018 the security staff had cUAS protocols of actually shooting rogue drones out of the sky should the situation escalate. Fortunately, this did not need to happen, and instead, people will forever remember the amazing synchronized drone performance put on by Intel.
• Trained bald eagles. We kid you not. Dutch authorities have trained eagles to take drones out of the sky.

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Types of Drone Jammers

Drone jammers come in various forms, each designed to cater to specific needs and environments. Understanding the different types of drone jammers is crucial for choosing the right one for your security requirements.

Here are the main types of drone jammers:

Portable Jammers

• Features. Portable drone jammers are compact and easy to carry, making them ideal for personal use or quick deployment in the field. They typically have a limited range but are sufficient for disrupting a drone’s communication within a close proximity.
• Usability. These jammers are user-friendly, often operating with a simple push of a button. They are favored by security personnel and private individuals who need a quick solution to prevent drone intrusions during events or in sensitive areas.

Stationary Jammers

• Features. Stationary jammers are more robust and have a higher power output, which allows them to cover larger areas. They are permanently installed in critical locations such as government buildings, airports, and prisons.
• Effectiveness. Due to their fixed location and enhanced capabilities, stationary jammers provide a continuous and reliable barrier against drone intrusions. They can interfere with multiple frequencies simultaneously, ensuring broader protection.

Tactical Jammers

• Features. Designed for military and law enforcement use, tactical jammers are built to be rugged and adaptable to various environments. They often feature advanced targeting capabilities to selectively disrupt specific drones without affecting other communications.
• Use in military and law enforcement. Tactical jammers play a crucial role in defense strategies, protecting troops from drone-based surveillance or attacks. They are also used during critical operations to ensure that drones cannot compromise mission security.

Credit: DroneShield

What about DIY Drone Jammers?

A DIY drone jammer is a device designed to disrupt the control and communication systems of drones.

These homemade devices typically operate by emitting signals that interfere with the frequencies used by a drone, leading to loss of control or forcing the drone to land. The main components might include RF modules, antennas, and controllers, but creating such a device involves a deep understanding of radio frequencies and electronics.

Technical Challenges

• Radio frequency knowledge. Building a jammer requires detailed knowledge of the radio frequencies drones operate on.
• Component integration. Integrating various electronic components to create a functional jammer can be complex without proper engineering expertise.
• Effectiveness and safety. Ensuring the jammer only affects the intended targets without causing broader interference to other devices is challenging.

Legal Implications

• Regulatory compliance. In many countries, including the United States, the use of jammers is illegal. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prohibits any interference with radio communications, which can include the operation of a drone jammer.
• Penalties. Unauthorized use of signal jammers can result in significant fines and legal consequences.

Ethical Considerations

• Privacy concerns. The use of drone jammers can raise ethical questions, particularly concerning privacy and the rights of drone operators.
• Security risks. Misuse of a drone jammer can lead to security risks, particularly if drones are being used for legitimate purposes like emergency response or delivery services.

Given these complexities, it’s highly advisable to consider alternatives to DIY solutions, such as promoting local regulations on drone flights or using legal counter-drone technologies provided by certified vendors. If you are considering any approach involving drone jammers, consulting with legal experts and understanding the local regulations is crucial.

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Top Drone Jammers on the Market

When it comes to enhancing security and ensuring privacy, drone jammers play a crucial role. Here’s a look at some of the top drone jammers currently available on the market:

DroneDefender V2

• Features. This tactical drone jammer is known for its effectiveness in disabling unmanned aerial threats. It uses directed energy to disrupt the control functions of invasive drones without causing physical damage.
• Use Cases. Ideal for security forces and facility protection, providing a safe countermeasure against drone surveillance or threats.

Skylock Anti-Drone System

• Features. Offers a multi-layered solution with capabilities to detect, verify, and neutralize drones. It uses advanced radar and RF technology to effectively jam drone signals.
• Use Cases. Suitable for airports, critical infrastructure, and military installations, ensuring airspace security against unauthorized drones.

MyDefence Pitbull

Credit: MyDefence

• Features. A wearable drone jammer designed for personal security in military settings. It disrupts drone signals, effectively neutralizing potential threats.
• Use Cases. Best for ground troops who require a lightweight, portable solution to safeguard against drone attacks.

Dedrone DroneTracker

• Features. Although primarily a detection and tracking system, it integrates seamlessly with active countermeasures like jammers to provide a comprehensive defense solution.
• Use Cases. Ideal for urban environments, providing real-time threat assessments and quick mitigation options.

Checklist: What to Look for in a Good Drone Jammer

Selecting the right drone jammer involves several critical considerations. Here’s a checklist to guide your purchase:

• Effective Range: Ensure the jammer covers the distance needed to effectively protect the designated airspace.
• Frequency Coverage: Look for jammers that can disrupt a wide range of frequencies to handle different drone models.
• Portability: Consider whether you need a portable device for field operations or a stationary unit for permanent installation.
• Ease of Use: The system should be user-friendly, requiring minimal training for operation.
• Legal Compliance: Verify that the use of drone jammers complies with local laws and regulations.
• Integration Capabilities: Check if the jammer can be integrated with other security systems for enhanced protection.
• Reliability and Durability: Choose devices known for their durability and reliability under various environmental conditions.

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Are Drone Jammers Legal?

The use of “cell jammers” or similar devices designed to intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications (signal blockers, GPS jammers, i.e drone jammers) is a violation of federal law.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prohibits the use of devices that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications, which include cell, GPS, and drone jammers. This prohibition extends to the general public, including state and local law enforcement, who are not allowed to use these devices outside of very specific and federally sanctioned situations.

For that reason, the use of the technology is generally limited to the military, police, and first responders.

Credit: DroneShield

Bottom Line: Civilians and Local Authorities Are Not Allowed to Use Drone Jammers

Domestically, the United States federal government does not allow state or local authorities to pursue action against drone pilots, even when a drone is being flown illegally.

While it may seem strange that our local authorities do not yet have the means to take action, analysts of the technology believe it will be a good thing to develop standards on a Federal level so parties inherently biased against drone use cannot take matters into their own hands.

In scenarios where drones pose a security threat, such as near airports or in conflict zones, federal authorities may deploy jamming technology. However, the complexity of safely integrating these systems in environments dense with electronic communication makes their use challenging:

• Airport safety concerns. Airports are hubs of intensive radio communication where the introduction of a drone jamming device could disrupt essential communications, potentially affecting commercial aviation safety.
• Operational challenges. Effectively operating a drone jamming system requires precise identification and targeting of UAVs, which demands significant manpower and technological resources, often making it impractical for local enforcement.
• Economic considerations. The high costs associated with installing comprehensive drone detection and neutralization systems pose another barrier, particularly when weighed against evolving drone technology.
• Legal and enforcement limitations. Even at the federal level, enforcement actions against unauthorized drone operations are rare. From 2007 to 2018, there were fewer than 50 legal actions related to drone misuse, highlighting the difficulties in policing drone operations effectively.

Given these factors, local authorities often find themselves unable to act against illegal drone activities, leading to calls for clearer federal guidelines and more accessible counter-drone technologies.

The ongoing development of these standards aims to ensure that local biases do not compromise the fair enforcement of drone regulations.

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Where Drone Jammers Are Being Used

Since drone jamming is limited legally to the federal government, the current applications of the technology are being reserved for high profile events and within operations directly related to the secret service and military.

One of the first public statements made in regards to signal jamming and government safety occurred back in 2015 after a drone crash landed on the white house lawn.

More recently, before the attempted assassination of former President Trump on July 13, 2024 the shooter used a drone to surveil the site. This is exactly the type of scenario where a drone jammer could have been useful.

Use Cases for Drone Jammers

Drone jammers are primarily utilized by the federal government due to strict legal restrictions on their use.

These devices are deployed in scenarios where security is paramount, such as national security operations and protection of significant public figures or events.

Here’s a closer look at the typical applications of drone jammers:

• Government Security. Following incidents like the 2015 drone crash on the White House lawn, federal agencies have significantly increased the use of drone jammers to secure critical infrastructures and residences of high-profile government officials, including the White House.
• Military Operations. In military contexts, drone jammers are crucial for protecting personnel and sensitive locations from espionage or attacks by hostile drones. They are used both in domestic bases and during overseas operations to create drone-free zones.
• High-Profile Events. Events that attract large crowds and extensive media coverage, such as the Olympics or the Super Bowl, often employ drone jammers to prevent unauthorized drone activities that could disrupt the event or compromise safety. For instance, during the Super Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, drone jammers were part of a comprehensive security strategy that included both performance choreography and surveillance.
• Counter-terrorism. Drone jammers are a key component in counter-terrorism strategies, especially in urban areas or during significant public gatherings, to thwart potential threats from drones used in terrorist activities.

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What Drone Pilots Should Know about Drone Jammers

Drone jammers, although a critical tool for federal security and authorized entities, present a significant consideration for civilian drone pilots. Here are essential insights every drone pilot should be aware of regarding drone jammers:

• Legality and usage. Drone jammers are strictly regulated and legally can only be used by federally authorized agencies within the United States. Unauthorized use of drone jammers is illegal and can lead to severe penalties.
• Rare encounters for compliant pilots. Encounters with drone jammers are exceedingly rare for pilots who adhere to FAA guidelines and avoid restricted areas. Typically, jammers are only deployed during significant events or in sensitive areas where security risks are heightened.
• Potential for misinterpretation. It’s important for pilots to recognize that what might seem like a technical malfunction could potentially be an encounter with a drone jammer, especially near high-security zones or during large public events.
• Cost prohibitive. The high cost of drone jammers, ranging from several hundred to thousands of dollars, generally limits their availability and use to professional or government entities.
• Staying informed. The best defense against inadvertently flying into a jammed area is knowledge and compliance with FAA regulations. Understanding the rules laid out in Part 107 and maintaining certification as a remote pilot will guide pilots in navigating spaces safely and legally.

By staying informed and compliant, drone pilots can significantly reduce their chances of encountering drone jammers and ensure their operations remain safe and effective.

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Future of Drone Jamming Technology

As drone technology continues to evolve, so too does the technology designed to counteract it. Here are a few insights into the future of drone jamming technology:

• Emerging technologies and advancements. Innovations in drone jamming are focusing on more sophisticated methods to disrupt unauthorized drone flights effectively. These advancements include the development of more powerful and selective jamming devices that can target specific frequencies used by drones, minimizing interference with other wireless communications.
• Integration with broader anti-drone systems. Drone jammers are increasingly being integrated into comprehensive anti-drone systems that combine detection, tracking, and neutralization capabilities. This integration enables a more coordinated and effective response to potential drone threats, especially in sensitive or high-security areas.
• Importance in security measures. The relevance of drone jammers is expected to increase in light of recent security breaches, such as the alleged assassination attempt on former President Trump. These incidents highlight the potential misuse of drones for harmful purposes, underscoring the need for effective countermeasures like drone jammers in national security strategies.

For further reading on the advancements in drone jamming technology and their implications for security, click here.