Gatwick and Heathrow Airports have reportedly ordered military-grade anti-drone defences worth “several million pounds”.
It comes after drones caused three days of disruption at Gatwick last month.
Transport minister Chris Grayling met police, aviation and defence chiefs on Thursday to discuss the issue, The Times reported.
The technology is said to include the Israeli-designed Drone Dome system. The airports did not immediately comment.
Gatwick chaos – In pictures
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Marisa age 10 from West Sussex waiting for a bus to Manchester airport then onto Dubai for a family Christmas
Jeremy Selwyn
2/21
Adele Barber mother and kids Philip James and Elizabeth
Just back from their holiday in Lapland to see Father Christmas.
They were delayed overnight in Lapland
Jeremy Selwyn
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Elizabeth Barber Just back from a holiday to Lapland to see Father Christmas with family .
Jeremy Selwyn
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Staff try to lift the mood of gloomy travellers
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers boarding coaches at Gatwick this morning
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal
7/21
Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal
8/21
Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal
9/21
Passengers sleep on the floors and seats of the terminal
10/21
Jeremy Selwyn
11/21
Passengers head for the coaches to catch redirected flights
Jeremy Selwyn
12/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
13/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
14/21
Florinane Tarrou and Sandra Shaffner stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
15/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
17/21
Remi Denton 19 and boyfriend Dylan Batley amongst passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
18/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
1/21
Marisa age 10 from West Sussex waiting for a bus to Manchester airport then onto Dubai for a family Christmas
Jeremy Selwyn
2/21
Adele Barber mother and kids Philip James and Elizabeth
Just back from their holiday in Lapland to see Father Christmas.
They were delayed overnight in Lapland
Jeremy Selwyn
3/21
Elizabeth Barber Just back from a holiday to Lapland to see Father Christmas with family .
Jeremy Selwyn
4/21
Staff try to lift the mood of gloomy travellers
Jeremy Selwyn
5/21
Passengers boarding coaches at Gatwick this morning
Jeremy Selwyn
6/21
Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal
7/21
Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal
8/21
Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal
9/21
Passengers sleep on the floors and seats of the terminal
10/21
Jeremy Selwyn
11/21
Passengers head for the coaches to catch redirected flights
Jeremy Selwyn
12/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
13/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
14/21
Florinane Tarrou and Sandra Shaffner stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
15/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
16/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
17/21
Remi Denton 19 and boyfriend Dylan Batley amongst passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
18/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
19/21
Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
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Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today
Jeremy Selwyn
Drone sightings caused chaos at Gatwick, Britain’s second busiest airport, disrupting the travel plans of tens of thousands of people in the run-up to Christmas.
The incident revealed a vulnerability that is being scrutinised by security forces and airport operators worldwide.
The military was drafted in to deploy specialist equipment, enabling authorities to reassure the airport that it was safe for planes to take off and land.
Security minister Ben Wallace said last month Britain’s security forces had detection systems that could be deployed throughout the country to combat the threat of drones.
Reporting by Reuters.
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