While nets and darts are limited to a range of under one kilometre, Qinetiq says radio frequency jamming can disable drones up to three kilometres or 1.8 miles away.
Jamming can disrupt local wifi, communications and GPS so Qinetiq said it needed to be deployed “very carefully” but it believes its targeted use is “feasible” under appropriate legislative control.
The Government is currently reviewing legislation that restricts the use of jamming technology to anyone other than the police or intelligence services.
Qinetic has been developing radar for 75 years and through the Second World War. Known as the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), it was spun out of the MoD in 2001. It has been researching and creating its anti-drone system for four years before launching it in April.
It is now being trialled by Ottawa airport in Canada and the company is in talks with other airports and other agencies.