WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has spent more than $15 million on Israeli-made anti-drone equipment that can counter the small drones used by ISIS as weapons. <br /> <br />The U.S. Department of Defense issued a press release on Feb. 21 that details a $15.6 million contract for “counter-unmanned aerial systems” awarded to ELTA North America Inc, a U.S. subsidiary of Israeli Aerospace Industries. <br /> <br />The contract states the company will deliver “21 Man Portable Aerial Defense System kits” by July 28. <br /> <br />According to Defense One, the system purchased by the Air Force could be the Drone Guard system developed by Israeli Aerospace Industries. <br /> <br />The Drone Guard system is equipped with drone detection and tracking algorithms and 3D radars that can detect airborne targets from a range of 10km to 20km. Once the system detects a hostile drone, it emits jamming signals that can send the drone back to its point-of origin or shut it down to make a crash landing. <br /> <br />Israel Aerospace Industries said last year that it had sold the Drone Guard system to several customers but did not disclose the details of the buyers. <br /> <br />ISIS is reportedly using drones to carry out surveillance and attacks in Iraq and Syria.
