Dutch Police use Eagles to Take Out Drones

Rogue drones are becoming a concern for authorities in many countries. A few measures to intercept them have been tested, with the Dutch police force opting for a rather unusual one. It involves using one of nature’s most famous flying predators: eagles.

The Dutch police started training eagles who can bring down drones back in 2015 and they’re now ready to be deployed. Authorities in the Netherlands have been working with security company Guard From Above to find an effective way of bringing down unwanted drones. Various methods were tested, including using drones that deploy nets to capture the rogue ones. The tests quickly showed that out of all methods used, eagles provided the most cost-effective solution.

Eagles see drones that fly around as prey and can be trained to intercept them. There are already quite a few videos posted online showing the birds attacking drones as they fly. With the testing phase now over, the first trained eagles are ready to be deployed. For the time being, Guard From Above will provide the natural predators. The Dutch police are expected to have their own eagles soon.

Drones flying into forbidden airspace, such as the area around airports, are a growing concern due to their potential for causing accidents if they collide with aircraft. Rogue drones might also be used to take unauthorized video of restricted areas, such as military bases. Criminal organizations have already been using drones to smuggle small packets of contraband across borders or into prisons.

Drone hunter eagles can quickly be deployed to any area that they’re needed and are highly effective at spotting and intercepting renegade drones. With the Dutch experiments showcasing their advantages, it is likely that other countries around the world will start using birds of prey to go after drones straying into forbidden areas.