Signals intelligence
More countries, organizations seeking to use aerial drones for peaceful, nefarious purposes
The United States’ near monopoly on drones is quickly coming to an end. Countries, terrorist groups and individuals are all trying to use drones both to make their lives easier as well as in contexts that very much resemble warfare.
U.S. State Department operating mini-drone fleet over Iraq
In an effort to secure its own facilities and its employees in the wake of the U.S. military pullout, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq is operating a small fleet of mini-drones for use in real-time surveillance. They’re trying to get permission from the Iraqi government to make their use permanent.
VIDEO: Advanced Israeli drone, capable of reaching Iran, crashes west of Jerusalem
Israel is employing a growing fleet of drones to monitor its adversaries and to have should the country ever again be threatened militarily. But one of their newest and most advanced versions crashed over the weekend, just weeks before it was expected to be declared operational.
FAA poised to enable police departments to use UAVs domestically
In January, the FAA is expected to issue new air space regulations allowing for the civilian use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Police departments are expected to be early and widespread users of the drones, but some are raising concerns about privacy.
