Israeli Defense Ministry Seeks Solutions Against Cellular Network-Controlled Drones on Battlefields

The Israeli Defense Ministry's research and development directorate (Mafat) has issued a call for solutions to detect and locate drones controlled via civilian cellular networks, a technology gaining prominence on battlefields such as Ukraine and Russia. This move follows challenges faced by Israel's security forces against Hezbollah's fiber-optic tethered drones in southern Lebanon, which, while difficult to jam electronically, have limited range and payload capacity.

Unlike radio frequency (RF) and fiber-optic drones, cellular network-controlled drones use SIM cards and civilian 4G/5G networks for communication, rendering traditional electronic warfare countermeasures ineffective. These drones enable long-range attacks and real-time intelligence gathering, as seen in the Russia-Ukraine conflict where both sides employ such technology for strikes and surveillance. The Defense Ministry seeks operational, mobile solutions tailored to the dynamic nature of maneuvering forces in hostile territory.

Current countermeasures against fiber-optic drones include physical barriers like wire fences that sever the fiber optic cable, personal defense weapons such as specialized sights and shotguns firing split projectiles, and detection technologies including radar, optical sensors, LIDAR, and acoustic systems. Mafat has established a rapid evaluation model to test and deploy effective solutions swiftly.

Experts highlight the modular nature of drone warfare, with terrorist groups like Hezbollah assembling and customizing drones locally. Israeli forces uncovered an underground Hezbollah facility in June containing drone components at various assembly stages. The civilian commercial drone market, dominated by Chinese company DJI, is rapidly expanding, with cellular network drones expected to grow from $1.16 billion in 2023 to $8.8 billion by 2033, driven largely by the Asia-Pacific region.

Open-source software platforms like ArduPilot facilitate drone control over 3G and 4G networks, enabling workshops to build drones without starting from scratch. However, cellular connectivity can also be a vulnerability; technologies simulating cellular antennas (Stingray systems) and advanced algorithms can differentiate airborne drones from ground users with high accuracy, aiding detection and countermeasures.

The Defense Ministry's initiative reflects an urgent need to adapt to evolving drone threats by integrating diverse detection and interception capabilities while managing command and control complexities. This effort aims to maintain battlefield superiority amid rapidly advancing drone technologies.