Date: September 16 th 2019
Drone-attack on Saudi oil plants disrupting global oil supplies- New program countering Fixed wing UAS
Saudi Arabia has cut oil and gas production following drone attacks on two major oil facilities run by state-owned company Aramco last week."At 04:00 (01:00 GMT), the industrial security teams of Aramco started dealing with fires at two of its facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais as a result of… drones the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said the strikes had reduced crude oil production by 5.7m barrels a day – about half the kingdom’s output. The country produces 10% of the world’s crude oil. Cutting this in half could have a significant effect on the oil price this Monday when markets open. The success of the drone strike shows the vulnerability of the oil infrastructure, and it raises concerns that escalating tensions in the region could pose a broader risk to oil, potentially threatening the fifth of the world’s supply that goes through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-49703143
New program countering fixed wing UAS
In the last several years Guard From Above has seen a shift in the sort of drones that are being used for attacks. Were in the past Quadcopters were being used for short to mid-range attacks deploying explosives in the last year we see a spike in the usage of fixed wing drones for long-range attacks. The incident at the Saudi Aramco sites is a recent example of this threat.
Based on the recent events Guard From Above has decided to start a new training program. This training program will be focused on countering fixed wing UAS by using falcons. We will use our 28 years’ experience in training birds of prey and our other C-UAS program (Training Bald eagles to intercept quadcopters). We will tailor a new training program based on the “new” fixed wing UAS problem.
Falcons can be trained to tip the wings or center mass of a fixed wing UAS and therefore off-balance the UAS causing it to crash before it reaches its target. This is behavior what is being used by falcons in hunting for thousands of years.
Background video and natural behavior in hunting: The Peregrine Falcon & Living Missile.
Together with our partners and clients we will tailor a site-specific counter UAS program that will mitigate the UAS threat and protect your assets and interests.
Send us an email with details on your UAS problem and we will be happy to help tailor the right solution for your situation!
Date: 29th-30th January
Guard From Above exposing at theThunderDrone RPE II: C-SUAS Tech Expo (SOFWERX USSOCOM)
On 29 January – 31 January 2018, SOFWERX in collaboration with USSOCOM, hosted the second ThunderDrone Rapid Prototyping Event (RPE) Tech Expo. ThunderDrone RPE II focused on Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-SUAS).
This event was looking to discover the best of breed, C-SUAS solutions. ThunderDrone has particular interest in those solutions that provide hard-kills (permanently defeat drones), but will also assess all new, novel, and provocative technologies. RPE II will expose new and emerging C-SUAS technologies to the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), to include all four military services. This will be accomplished by conducting a Technology Expo, followed later by an Outdoor Demonstration.
Tech Expo: After reviewing all technology submissions, the ThunderDrone team has invite Guard From Above as one of the selected applicants to showcase their technology during a Tech Expo at SOFWERX in Tampa, FL. Exhibitors had the opportunity to directly interface with SOF warfighters and interagency partners. Teaming and partnerships between companies that have complimentary capabilities was highly encouraged.
Date: September 14th 2017
2017 Bird training program
This year we have a New batch of birds in training for our international clients in the Defense and Law enforcement Industry.
Date: September 12-15th 2017
Guard From Above attending DSEI 2017 Event London
Guard From Above will attend the DSEI 2017 to meet our current and new clients, Industry partners and explorer opportunities to work together on innovating in the Defense and Security Industry
Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) is the world leading event that brings together the global defence and security sector to innovate and share knowledge. DSEI represents the entire supply chain on an unrivalled scale.
Attend DSEI 2017 to develop relationships with an audience of over 34,000 including Defence Ministers, International Military and Armed Forces, key industry players and private sector companies. https://www.dsei.co.uk
Date: April 18th 2017
2017 Bird handler Training Program Class started
After a pre-assesment of the candidates a number of government candidates have started the 2017 class in our Bird handler Training Program.
In our Bird handler Training Program we are training staff from (mostly) international law enforcement, miltary units en Private security companies to work with GFA-certfified birds of prey and to deploy them operationally to counter unwanted drones. The training program is based on over 25 years of training birds of prey and contains theoretical class sessions, practical sessions working with our birds and group sessions.
This 20-day training program will take place in The Netherlands and in most cases we will also do some additional on the job training on-site with our clients. On special request we also can provide custom made training programs for our clients.
Good luck to this new class of Bird Handlers in training!
Date: 18-26th March 2017
US Business trip Guard From Above (Maryland- Washington DC)
In cooperation with The Hague Security Delta (HSD), InnovationQuarter, BWTech and the American Embassy to the Netherlands, the Maryland Department of Commerce was launching the Soft Landing Program Security Technologies NL/USA (Maryland). This program allows dutch small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to have the ability to establish new customers and partnerships in the US market, possibly leading to a permanent presence in the United States.
The Soft Landing Program is designed to assist companies to carry out international business development in a new foreign market through support and incubation facilities for a trial period between 1st of January and 31st of March 2017. This allows companies to establish customers and partnerships, leading to the possibility of establishing a permanent presence in the foreign market of either Maryland (greater Washington DC) or West Holland (Province of Zuid-Holland).
Guard From Above traveled to the US from the 18th- 26th of March in this program to meet with current and future customers and to explore partnerships. There were several very good high-level meetings and some time to also explore ways to work together with our fellow Soft-landing company and C-UAV detection specialist Robin Radar.
Date: 19-23 Februari 2017
IDEX 2017 International Defence Exhibition and Conference
A partner of Guard From Above was present at the IDEX 2017 show in Abu Dahbi UAE. A lot of interesting contacts were made and future collaborations are being explored.
Date: Februari 2017
French Airforce copies Guard From Above idea
In 2016 a delegation of the French Police and Military visited Guard From Above. In Februari 2017 they made the news that they also have started to train birds of prey to intercept hostile drones. Great Idea guys!
Date: December 2016
International Law enforcement Delegation visit
In December a number of international Law enforcement officials visited Guard From Above to explore ways to work together on countering drones.
Date: December 9th 2016
Guard From Above at Innovation day Dutch National Police
December 9th Guard From Above was invited by the Dutch National Police to expo at the 2016 Innovation day at the Police Academy.
Besides the expo, Guard From Above also demonstrated several drone interceptions with the Eagles from Guard From Above and one of the Police Eagles in training with Guard From Above.
Date: October 22th 2016
Guard From Above at Security conference Outside IN
October 22th Guard From Above was invited by The Ministry of Security and Justice to expo at the event Outside IN. Over a 1000 participants form science, public and private organisations with a passion for security came together to experience innovation and to explore ways to collaborate.
Date: October 11th 2016
Guard From Above invited at Law enforcement event
October 11th Guard From Above was invited by the Dutch Law enforcement community to expo at an event were special innovative new security solutions were presented.
Date: Oktober 1st 2016
Dutch National Police Safety-day (Amsterdam-Team Amstel)
Guard From Above was present at the Safety-day for Team Citycentre/Amstel of the Dutch National Police in Amsterdam.
Date: September 9th 2016
Dutch Police first to deploy GFA trained Birds of prey to intercept hostile drones
The Dutch National Police is the first government agency in the world to deploy Birds of prey trained by Guard From Above. After succesfully completing extensive testing the Dutch Police has bought a number of Birds of prey that will be trained by Guard From Above. Also Guard From Above will train a select number of Police officers to become a GFA-Certified Birdhandler.
Friday september 9th the Dutch National Police and Guard From Above demonstrated a drone-interception in an urban scenario.
Source(dutch): https://www.politie.nl/nieuws/2016/september/13/politie-traint-roofvogels-om-drones-te-onderscheppen.html
Date: September 9th 2016
Drones Innovation Day:New ways to counter hostile drones
On Wednesday september 14th 2016 the Ministry of Security and Justice in collaboration with Twente Safety and Security and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has organized the Drones Innovation Day. Drones that deliver explosives, gather information on locations where this is not wanted, disrupt airtraffic or emergency services and disrupt public order. These are some of the negative examples of drone use. Countering this new and growing threat asks for innovative solutions. The Drones Innovation day was a event to see what current and future ways are available to Detect, classify, intercept and to neutralize hostile drones. Guard From Above succesfully demonstrated an interception of a DJI Phantom drone at this event. Also new collaborations were formed between the several C-UAV companies present at this event.
Date: July 1st 2016
Article WIRED Magazine (US issue)
Date: June 9th 2016
Fieldlab Smartbase event (Dutch Defense forces)
During this event the Dutch military challenged private companies and SME to help develop safer future military compounds abroad. GFA has written a project proposal to help the Dutch Military to protect our men and women against hostile drones at compounds abroad.
Date: May 30th 2016
Article New York Times
Great article by Stephen Castle of the New York Times who visited a training with us. One of the best articles on GFA
>Full article, including video: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/
Date: May 24th 2016
CBS News-item : Watch out, drones: This bald eagle can take you down (including video)
A couple of weeks ago we had cameracrew from CBS News and the New York Times as our guest during a GFA-demo. There was a lot of wind this day but in the end the results were great! Our birds performed perfect!
Full article: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dutch-police- use-eagles- to-take- down-illegal- drones/
Date: April 14th 2016
Experience Day Drone Counter Measures
Guard From Above was attending and Pitching at the Experience Day Drone counter Measures. April 14th was about new technologies that meet the challenge of detecting and eliminating small drones. A one day event focussed on drone countermeasures. The spirit was to see actual demonstrations besides PowerPoint’s. Let’s fly, detect and catch drones for real.
Location: Woensdrecht Air Base
Attending where, those responsible for securing high profile evenor critical infrastructures like airports, harbours, military compounds, prisons, industrial sites, electricity companies or nuclear power plants. This event was initiated by Securitas Belgium and Robin Radar Systems from the Netherlands and supported by various other companies who demonstrate their techniques. The event was facilitated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force and Business Park Aviolanda.
Great day, with near perfect weather. A lot of great different solutions and great spirit of all participants on the ambition on keeping our clients airspace dronesafe.
Date: April 5th 2016
BBC-Item : The eagle that chases drones
The BBC item on the Demonstration on March 8th (including video), This video was part of a larger item on BBC CLICK on Drones and Counter drone measures.
Full article: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35921123
Click – 26/03/2016
In a drone special, the team race drones and then take them down with the help of an eagle. Plus learning how to program a BBC Microbit. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b075by83/click-26032016
Date: March 8th 2016
BBC-Item : Eagles trained to take down drones
The BBC item on the Demonstration on March 7th (including video)
Date: March 7th 2016
2nd Pressday: Outdoor training session
Monday afternoon March 7th our customer and partner the Dutch National Police organized a 2nd Pressday with the international press. We had BBC, French television, NOS, ANP, Hart van Nederland(Dutch TV news show) and Kidsweek as our guests at one of our outdoor traininglocations at Airport Valkenburg. We had a nice day of filming, interviewing and of course interceptions of hostile drones…
Proud of our birds and our team!
Some of the footage and items:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-
http://www.hartvannederland.
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1421/
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1421/
Date: February 25th 2016
GFA Certificate coming in 2016
To guarantee the high level of quality of our services we are working on the Guard From Above: GFA Certificate. The GFA Certificate will be based on our 25 years’ experience working with birds of prey. Also we are taking in the experience we have had developping our GFA concept. Animal welfare is very important for us, this will be a key part of the GFA Certification. The GFA Certificate will be used on our Bird training program, on the Birdhandler training program, extra Protective measures, equipment, Bird quarters and caretaking. In the course of 2016 we will be further implementing the GFA Certificate.
Date: February 2, 3 and 4th 2016
TUSEXPO 2016 The Hague
Tuesday 2nd, wednesday 3th and thursday 4th Guard From Above was exhibiting at the The Unmanned Systems Expo(TUSEXPO) http://tusexpo.com/. Highlight for us was being asked to be part of the Opening of the Expo. At the TUSEXPO we had a lot of press attention and questions from visitors who had seen us on tv and the internet. Also we received several questions from new possible clients about our services.
This week was a very busy but important week for us. We would like to thank our GFA-team and the people that have been working hard behind the screens to help us to make our exhibit at the TUSEXPO a succes!
Thanks guys(and girls)
Date: February 1th 2016
Press attention unleashed!!!!
Monday the 1st of februari there was a lot attention of the international press with tv, radio and interview request from al over the world. We were expecting a lot of interest from the press but not as much as we had this week! Amongst others: Germany, England, Norway, Denmark, France, Suisse, Russia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, United States, Japan, China, India.
We are trying to answer alle emails and phonecalls as quickly and good as possible. We are gathering all request for tv/documentary items and will make a selection on wich ones we are going to talk to further.
Read the articles.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/01/dutch-netherlands-police-birds-unauthorized-drones
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/2/eagles-vs-drones-dutch-police-eye-birds-to-prey-on/
Date: January 31th 2016
Broadcasting TV recordings Dutch National Television and Press-release Guard From Above
Sunday the 31st of januari 2016 the Dutch national television(NOS) had a broadcast of a newsitem about contra-drone solutions featuring our Bird of Prey solution to intercept hostile drones in the six and eight O’clock news. At the time of the broadcast, the Dutch Police and the NOS news agency put the newsitem on their.
Websites:
http://nos.nl/artikel/2084071-hoe-voorkom-je-aanslagen-met-drones-met-een-roofvogel.html
At the same time Guard From Above send out a Press-release and the Guard From Above website and Youtube video went online!
Date: January 29th 2016
TV recordings Dutch national television (NOS) with the Dutch Police
Friday the 29th of januari 2016 the Dutch national television(NOS) was attending one of your trainingsessions in our innovation project with the Dutch Police. Due to heavy winds it was not possible to fly with drones outside on this day so we were forced to film in one of our indoor trainingfacilities.
Contact
Wilhelmina van Pruisenweg 104
2595AN The Hague – The Netherlands
(HSD Campus)
Sjoerd Hoogendoorn
CEO/Founder
info@guardfromabove.com
About Guard From Above
Guard From Above is the first company in the world to use birds of prey to intercept hostile drones.