Israeli Police to Equip Patrol Cars With Rooftop Drones
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Police will spend NIS 4 million on 16 patrol car-mounted drones.
- Drones will provide aerial command and control at incident scenes.
- Fotokite Sigma 3 drones were chosen for their suitability and ease of deployment.
- The technology aims to improve crowd monitoring for shift commanders.
The Israeli Police are set to invest approximately NIS 4 million (about $1.1 million USD) to equip 16 patrol cars with drones launched from their roofs. These drones are intended for operational use, including aerial command and control over incident scenes, aiming to enhance crowd monitoring capabilities for shift commanders.
Following an evaluation of several drone suppliers earlier this year, the police selected the Sigma 3 model from Fotokite, a Swiss company founded in 2014 specializing in drones for law enforcement and security missions. The chosen drones were deemed suitable for integration into moving vehicles, unlike other models that failed to meet the installation requirements.
Alternative solutions considered by the police, such as storing drones in vans or patrol car trunks, were rejected because they required specialized operator skills. The Fotokite drones, however, are housed in protective cases that prevent dust ingress and safeguard the drones themselves, simplifying deployment and operation.
The integration of these drones is expected to significantly improve the police's ability to manage and oversee events from a strategic aerial perspective.
Read the original at Calcalist
