Airport Security: Weaponized One-Way Drones
Airport Security: Weaponized One-Way Drones One-way weaponized drones are a growing threat to airport security. Low-cost devices like 3D printed FPV drones can be weaponized for under $500 and require little expertise. Immediate dangers include mid-air collisions with planes on approach or attacks on terminals, fuel storage, or parked aircraft—critical vulnerabilities that require urgent attention. These risks are not theoretical. The Russo-Ukrainian war shows how devastating drones can be, and terrorists could use similar tactics against civilian airports (Hambling, 2025). If a terrorist attacked an airliner taxiing on a runway, TSA, airport security, or DHS would have little recourse. A swarm drone attack could cause mass casualties and disruptions. Addressing these challenges is difficult, as both drone detection and disrupting navigation are complicated. Detecting drones with radar is difficult. Airport radars are not designed to spot small Radar Cross Section (RCS) objec...