In recent years, incidents involving "low, slow, small" UAVs have seen a noticeable increase. The development of these UAVs poses a significant threat to key targets, key areas, and major events. Particularly in the current severe counter-terrorism situation, once exploited by malicious individuals or hostile entities, it could lead to immeasurable losses and consequences.
"Low, slow, small" aircraft encompass a wide range of devices, including small and medium-sized aircraft, helicopters, gliders, trikes, paragliders, powered parachutes, hot air balloons, airships, UAVs, aviation models, and aerostats. Due to technological advancements and the characteristics of "low, slow, small" UAVs themselves—such as low cost, simple operation, convenient carry, easy access, low takeoff requirements, strong suddenness of takeoff, and difficulty in detection and disposal—incidents of illegal flights and terrorist attacks involving these UAVs have been on the rise.
Reports of "low, slow, small" UAVs engaging in illegal mapping, close-range surveillance, and disruption of normal airspace order have appeared frequently, resulting in significant negative impacts and economic losses, severely affecting national security and the normal development of the national economy.
The impact of "low, slow, small" UAVs on existing security systems renders existing technical prevention systems, physical barriers, detection, alarms, access control, and other land-based invasion prevention systems powerless against the threat posed by "low, slow, small" UAVs. The traditional defense mode of key targets, key areas, and technical defense systems face severe challenges from "low, slow, small" UAV threats.
On April 17, 2016, an Airbus A320 flying from Geneva to London collided with a remotely operated UAV while landing at London Heathrow International Airport. At that time, the aircraft was carrying 132 passengers and 5 crew members. As early as July 2014, London Heathrow Airport experienced an unidentified incident where a UAV almost collided with an Airbus A320 preparing to land. The Civil Aviation Authority classified the incident as Class A, indicating a serious collision risk, which is the highest level of risk classification by the Civil Aviation Authority. On January 26, 2015, US law enforcement agencies discovered a small rotary-wing UAV crashed on the South Lawn of the White House, prompting the Secret Service to launch a security investigation immediately. Some media commentators stated that this incident would trigger intense discussions about civil UAV regulatory policies. On March 24 and 31, 2014, two crashed UAVs were discovered in Pocheon City and Baengnyeong Island, South Korea, equipped with small cameras. The UAV that crashed on the 24th also captured blurry photos of the Blue House, the presidential residence of South Korea. In September 2013, a flight was delayed at Beijing Capital International Airport after a UAV was found to have been modified. The flight applied for 120,129 more flights at Beijing Capital International Airport. On September 15, 2013, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière were disrupted by a miniature UAV during an election rally in the eastern city of Dresden. The 40-centimeter-long UAV first hovered over the audience's heads before landing at the feet of Merkel and others. Also in Germany, on June 25, 2013, German police arrested two Tunisians who attempted to carry out a terrorist attack using remote-controlled model aircraft. In 2017, rogue UAVs invaded Mianyang Airport, forcing 8 flights to be grounded. In November 2016, terrorist organizations used UAVs to conduct aerial reconnaissance and guide grenade attacks in Mosul.