A rising threat in South Carolina? Drones in the wrong hands | Opinion
In the United States, our geographic location and military capacity have given us a sense of security, almost invincibility, that has only been punctured a few times — primarily at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and on Sept. 11, 2001.
Nevertheless, there’s always a risk that state actors and others could strike here – and that risk has increased with the proliferation of technologies with civilian and military uses and growing threats in Iran, Russia and China, to name a few.
This is especially concerning in South Carolina, which houses critical assets like the Joint Strike Fighter base in Beaufort and the C-17 base in Charleston as well as Charleston’s crucial East Coast shipping port and the Savannah River Site nuclear facility near the Georgia border.
Other South Carolina defense installations, critical infrastructure sites and major commercial hubs for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BMW and Google are also potential targets for those who wish to disrupt domestic stability.
The threat manifests in the form of small to medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles.
The first signs of this threat emerged at the federal level almost two years ago, when swarms of drones violated airspace around Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Last year, there were further incidents, including incursions over New Jersey. Initially, the concern was espionage and the risk of accidents involving commercial aircraft.
However, recent developments in Ukraine — such as kamikaze drones launched against Russia’s bomber fleet from within Russian borders — and Israeli Mossad’s assembly of kamikaze drones in Iran for attacks against that country have made clear that drones now pose a serious risk to national defense assets and infrastructure.
South Carolina’s elected and appointed officials at both the state and federal levels must take immediate action to prevent this threat from impacting infrastructure and critical defense assets. Securing the state requires expediting laws that allow the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense and law-enforcement agencies to more effectively track small drones around critical infrastructure.
Additionally, the state should invest in sensory equipment designed to spot, identify and track low-flying vehicles. While this is usually an FAA function, recent events at Newark International Airport and a collision off the approach pattern at Reagan International Airport have highlighted the FAA’s challenges in fulfilling its current responsibilities.
If South Carolina’s people and leaders prioritize the safety of its citizens and critical assets, they must invest in augmenting federal efforts.
State law enforcement and National Guard units should also be equipped, trained and authorized to use equipment necessary to counter drones used against assets in South Carolina.
Options include portable anti-drone packs using microwave and electronic countermeasures individuals can employ to defeat small batches of drones. Kinetic but non-lethal options include specialized anti-drone shotguns and munitions, as well as 40-millimeter projectiles carrying nets, slime and rubber pellets.
While these countermeasures carry some risk of accidental damage to passersby and civilian aircraft, this risk can be mitigated through training and standardized procedures statewide. Portable equipment isn’t as robust as permanently installed systems, but it is more easily obtained and could be deployed immediately if needed.
South Carolinians may like to think that little old South Carolina keeps to itself and isn’t a target. However, the state houses critical national defense and economic assets that help keep this nation strong. The economic benefits South Carolina receives from hosting these assets come with a responsibility to help protect them.
The small drone threat to infrastructure is real and growing. Its escalating use elsewhere means it could be used by criminals and ill-meaning foreign actors in the U.S. and in our state, specifically.