Escalation of drone interference problem
On February 9, 2024, Super Bowl 53 will adopt stricter security measures to deal with drone threats. The game will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and the NFL and federal law enforcement will take tough action in the face of risks from unauthorized drones. These drone flight incidents have become a long-standing safety issue plaguing the NFL and other large events. During the 2022-2023 season, drone intrusions near stadiums increased by about 90%, with a total of about 2,500 incidents.
Strengthen security measures
As drone technology becomes more common, especially at high-profile events like the Super Bowl, security agencies have become significantly more wary of drones. Two weeks ago, an AFC championship game in Baltimore was suspended due to drone interference, resulting in a Pennsylvania drone pilot being charged by federal prosecutors. While no injuries were caused by the drone jamming incident, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said such incidents highlighted the need for safety measures. Security experts stress that the threat from drones during the Super Bowl has not been specifically identified, but security measures have been fully upgraded.
Multi-layered drone defense
Defense against drones will be multi-layered. Technology provided by Virginia-based Dedrone will be used for security at Allegiant Stadium. These technologies include radio frequency sensors, cameras and radars that can effectively detect and track drones. Radio frequency sensors are good at distinguishing drones from other objects, radar has a wider detection range, and cameras can help determine whether a drone is carrying a payload.
In a second layer of defense, security personnel will use signal jammer devices to cut off radio communications between the drone and its operator. Jammers can effectively prevent drone operations and help protect large events from potential aerial threats. It should be noted that federal law strictly limits interference with drones, and currently only government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, have the authority to interfere.
Security strategy implementation and future prospects
At previous NFL events, such as the 2019 Super Bowl in Atlanta, security teams have demonstrated how to deal with drone threats. At that time, the FBI team discovered a drone before the Air Force F-16 fighter flight performance and took corresponding preventive measures. Today, as drone technology continues to advance, security measures for the NFL and other large events are also evolving. In the future, as the use of drones becomes more popular, defense and jamming technologies will become even more important to ensure public safety and the smooth conduct of activities.
