Ukraine has deployed an extensive network of nearly 10,000 acoustic sensors to detect and intercept Russian drones, significantly enhancing its air defense capabilities. The system, known as “Sky Fortress,” provides real-time targeting information to mobile fire teams, allowing them to effectively neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with minimal training and cost.
Developed by two Ukrainian engineers, Sky Fortress uses simple yet effective technology: a microphone and a cell phone mounted on a six-foot pole to detect the sound of incoming drones. The data collected by these 9,500 sensors is centralized and processed, then distributed to field units via iPads, enabling rapid response to drone threats. This approach allows operators with just a few hours of training to effectively shoot down the UAVs using anti-aircraft guns.
General James Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and NATO’s Allied Air Command, highlighted the system’s cost-effectiveness. Each sensor costs between $400 and $500, making the entire network cheaper than a pair of Patriot missiles. This cost efficiency is crucial as Ukraine contends with a large number of low-cost, one-way attack drones deployed by Russia, including Iranian-developed Shahed drones.
The Sky Fortress system has already proven its effectiveness. During a significant attack involving 84 Russian drones, Ukrainian forces managed to intercept and destroy all but four. The success underscores the system’s capability to handle large-scale drone assaults and has attracted interest from other NATO countries. Demonstrations and trials in Germany and Romania have further validated the system’s performance.
Additionally, the system’s simplicity avoids issues associated with more complex sensors, such as those caused by the Earth’s curvature. This has enabled widespread deployment and consistent performance across varied terrains. The system’s ability to jam approximately 75% of drone communication frequencies enhances its defensive capability, although fully autonomous drones like the Russian Lancet pose a greater challenge.
General Hecker emphasized the need for NATO and allied forces to adopt similar innovative and cost-effective solutions to maintain a strategic advantage.
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