Counter drone company D-Fend reports working with the Slovakian Interior Ministry in September 2021 during a visit of the Pope. D-Fend equipment was employed to protect the pope, his retinue and attendees from the threat of rogue drones throughout multiple events in Slovakia, culminating with the open-air Mass in Šaštín, home to the National Marian Shrine. Details have been published for the first time in an exclusive article published by The Jerusalem Post.
According to the newspaper, the EnforceAir product developed by D-Fend was deployed with its ground-level tactical kit to provide 360-degree coverage. EnforceAir technology recognizes and permits authorized drones to operate in the airspace, focusing its defensive capabilities on mitigating rogue drones.
A previously unseen do-it-yourself drone was detected by EnforceAir during the mass. Initially, when the police decided to mitigate the potential threat, they considered using a jammer-based solution, said the newspaper. However, they quickly changed approaches, realizing that such jammers could potentially disrupt communications systems operating in the area. They were also concerned about halting media transmissions surrounding the pope’s address during the mass, as well as disrupting security base stations, which could create a separate security risk.
“EnforceAir fended off the rogue drone, sending it back to its original takeoff position, far away from the large crowd,” D-Fend told the newspaper.
“Protecting such a high-profile event is of the utmost importance, so we wanted to utilize a counter-drone technology that is best suited for crowded events and sensitive situations,” said a representative of the office responsible for the pope’s protection during his stay in Slovakia. “EnforceAir’s innovative solution took control of the rogue drone that threatened the potential safety of the pope, the crowd and the VIPs in attendance, quickly and easily.”
According to D-Fend, “Drones are posing an increasing threat to national security around the world – to critical infrastructure, civilians, and now to leaders.”
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