The threat of drones at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is being taken seriously by the authorities, who are counting on a hunter drone developed by CS Group to quickly neutralize any aerial intruder.
Security will perhaps be the authorities’ biggest challenge for the next Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. The threat of a surveillance drone, or even an attack by flying machine, is very real. Law enforcement is already anticipating this scenario with several detection and neutralization devices. Among the devices deployed, there is a drone hunter, developed by the company CS Group, used for numerous events, such as the recent Rugby World Cup.
Called BOREADES, this solution consists of detection software and a device tasked with neutralizing. A security perimeter is first virtually deployed over several kilometers. Cameras and sensors monitor the sky, distinguishing trusted objects from intruders.
If a threatening drone is detected, the “hunter” springs into action. The device, more imposing than a tourist drone, will automatically and relentlessly follow its target.
Once the law enforcement drone is close enough, it will be able to jam its target’s connection in order to neutralize it.
Why drone jamming is favored for the Olympics
“ Drone jamming will be effective for two reasons. First, the transmitter is closer to the device and will therefore have more effect than ground systems. Then, it hinders 4G and 5G connections, which we could not do on a large scale, since we risk impacting the population », explains Aurélia Pujol, business manager at CS Group.
What risk for spectators further down? In the event of signal jamming, the sudden fall of the drone is not automatic, even if the risk exists. A drone that finds itself disconnected generally reacts in two ways: it attempts to automatically rejoin its pilot, and if its GPS is affected, it initiates a landing.
In fact, drones are already intercepted during major events. The Ministry of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, declared that “20 malicious drones” had been neutralized during the Rugby World Cup, without specifying the threat posed by these devices. No need, therefore, to film the opening ceremony with your holiday drone.
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