The Star: October 12, 2023

The Star Thursday October 12 2023
18
NEWS
‘Drones are
the future
of warfare’
Learn a
language
Grow your fluency in te reo Māori, or learn to read,
write and speak better in English with a course at
Ara | Te Pūkenga, starting in February.
All levels available.
Learn more and apply at
ara.ac.nz
• From page 17
In 2018, DroneShield got its first
multimillion-dollar order; $3 million for
equipment to protect Saudi oil fields from
Houthi rebel drone attacks.
Research and development led to
smarter, better technology.
“Radio frequency is by far the best way
of detecting drones,” Vornik says.
With it, a C-UAS operator can search
for the radio wave “handshake” between a
drone and its controller.
“So, we listen for those uplinks and
downlinks and can tell, in real time, the
location of both the drone and the pilot.”
A drone gun can then fire a jamming
signal, forcing the drone to land or crash.
Interest in DroneShield’s technology
kept growing strongly. The company was
doing business in about 100 countries,
including New Zealand.
“And then, of course, the Ukraine war
started in February, 2022.
“We were asked to deliver the first
batch of our counter-drone equipment
right away, with support from a foreign
government.”
He has no love for Putin. The feeling,
apparently, is mutual.
“Six months ago, I was personally put
on the Russian government sanctions
list, together with a couple of other
people at DroneShield, off the back of our
involvement supporting Ukraine.”
The first batch of counter-drone devices
sent to Ukraine had an immediate impact.
DroneShield was quickly swamped with
inquiries from the Ukraine armed forces,
civilians and families of Ukrainian
soldiers.
Vornik is reluctant to detail which
DroneShield devices, in what quantities,
through which countries’ support, are
being used in the war.
“We obviously feel it’s completely
unacceptable that Russia has invaded.
“So, anything that we can do to assist
and help Ukrainians to defend themselves
and push back, you’ve got to do it.
“I’d like to think that we’re a meaningful
part of Ukraine’s defence.”
Business continues to boom.
In July, for example, a US government
agency ordered $33 million of DroneShield
counter-drone devices.
The company now employs close to 100
staff, most of them engineers.
“The invasion of Ukraine has
highlighted that drones are the new future
of warfare and that wars are still a thing
that happens,” Vornik says.
“A lot of militaries and intelligence
communities around the world are beefing
up purchases of drones and counter-drone
equipment.
“There is this saying in the military,
‘You have to fight the next war, not the last
war’.”
TRADE TOOLS &
BOOK
YOUR FREE
TICKETS
ONLINE
NOW
CALL IN
AND SEE US
TODAY!
THIS FRIDAY TO
SUNDAY ONLY!
WOLFBROOK ARENA
OPEN 10AM-5PM
For all your home renovating,
building and decorating ideas
and products, head along to
the Canterbury Home Show.
Free tickets available online at
canterburyhomeshow.co.nz
VOTING BOOTH ONSITE FRIDAY & SATURDAY | FREE FAMILY FUN DAY ON SUNDAY!
Mon to Fri 7am - 5pm
40 Hammersmith Dr, Wigram
Ph 03 982 0443
www.totalsitesupplies.co.nz