New York police could procure counter-drone system to tackle UAV menace

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is considering deploying an advanced counter-drone system called the Iron Drone Raider, developed by Maryland-based American Robotics, to address the growing problem of unauthorized and potentially hostile drones over the city. This system uses AI-powered interceptor drones that autonomously detect, track, and neutralize small hostile UAVs by capturing them with mesh nets and safely lowering them to the ground via parachutes. The entire process is automated, requiring no human pilot intervention, and can operate continuously, providing real-time video feeds to remote operators. This move comes amid a surge in drone incursions across the United States, including near sensitive sites such as military bases and nuclear power plants, with the FBI receiving over 5,000 drone sighting reports in late 2024 alone. While other counter-drone methods like laser weapons, bullets, hacking, or radio jamming exist, they tend to be more expensive and complex to maintain. The Iron Drone Raider system, costing under $200