British 'zapper' destroys 500 ISIS drones on the frontline in Iraq and Syria by jamming their radars

  • A British device has helped destroyed at least 500 ISIS drones in Iraq and Syria
  • 'Zappers' detect and jam signals of drones, sending them crash on the ground
  • They use a combination of radar, radio jamming and video tracking software
  • The anti-drone technology could also be used to protect spaces like airports

By Catherine Chapman For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A British 'zapper' has helped American troops destroy at least 500 ISIS drones on the frontline in Iraq and Syria, it has emerged.

The zapper - a £1.5million Anti-UAV Defence System technology - can detect and jam drone signals, essentially taking control over the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with the ability to send it crashing to the ground. 

A mixture of technology has been used to produce the device, developed in 2015 by three British companies - Blighter Surveillance Systems in Essex, Chess Dynamics in West Sussex and Enterprise Control Systems in Northamptonshire.

Using a combination of radar, radio jamming and video tracking and thermal software, the anti-drone technology has been implemented in Iraq and Syria to protect American bases from ISIS drones.

Anti-drone technology called a 'zapper', pictured, is able to detect and jam drone signals, which can cause them to crash to the ground

Anti-drone technology called a 'zapper', pictured, is able to detect and jam drone signals, which can cause them to crash to the ground

Makeshift ISIS drones have been attacking both American and British forces and disrupting their operations. 

According to the Times, the 'zapper' was sent to Iraq and Syria as Western forces fought to liberate the Iraqi city Mosul and Raqqa, formally an ISIS stonghold in Syria. 

Blighter Surveillance manager Neill Harvey told the Times: 'We can jam a drone, stop it in the sky and make it stay there until it runs out of power. This is operational. It is not developmental.'

The anti-drone system, which the Times reports the US military having bought an undisclosed number, must be stationary in order to work successfully.

The zapper, pictured, has been created by a team of three British companies including Blighter Surveillance Systems

The zapper, pictured, has been created by a team of three British companies including Blighter Surveillance Systems

The Spanish government has recently selected the British AUD system to add to their defence budget.

The technology is also expected to be used to prevent drone interference and increase security at places like airports. 

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