The threat of "attacks on critical infrastructure" launched by drones is now beginning to become a reality.

A drone tried to get close to a substation in Pennsylvania in July 2020. The drone, DJI's "Mavic2", hangs two 4-foot-long nylon ropes from the rotor, with a thick wire secured by insulating tape at the front.

There is nothing left on the drone that could be a sign of the owner, and there are no cameras and memory cards. It clearly shows the traces of the efforts of the owner who does not know his identity.

A security report released jointly by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) and the National counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC) said the purpose of the action was likely to "short-circuit power lines to interfere with the operation of substations". The drone crashed on the roof of an adjacent building before reaching the "target", and its rotor was damaged by impact. The identity of the manipulator is not clear.

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The incident was first reported by ABC. The report said it was the first case of a modified drone (UAS) used to target US power infrastructure as a "clear target". And it doesn't seem to be the last time.

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A spokesman for DHS, who was asked to comment, replied in a document that the Ministry's policy "regularly shares information with federal, state, regional, indigenous settlements and quasi-state officials to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all communities in the country".

A surge in drone incidents

As for the possibility that drones on the market could cause tragedies, experts warned at least six years ago that their accessibility and performance would give bad guys a chance to commit crimes.

In fact, in 18 years, drones carrying explosives were used in the plan to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In addition, terrorist organizations such as the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) use mass-produced drones for both reconnaissance and attack purposes.

The incident in Pennsylvania highlights the fact that the use of drones in the United States has been seriously upgraded to Levell.

There have been several similar incidents in the United States in the past. In addition to the 15-year crash of a drone on the lawn of the White House, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is busy dealing with a recent surge in sightings of drones near important facilities such as airports. Such intrusions are sometimes ignored as an accident, but this can no longer be the case.

"I was surprised that it took so much time [before being seen as a problem]," said Colin Clark, head of policy and investigation at Soufan Group, which specializes in information and security consulting. "if someone who knows how to use a drone gets crude explosives or crashes it somewhere, it will probably lead to catastrophe."

A solution that cannot be found

The person operating the drone in the Pennsylvania incident appears to be trying to approach the target in a less violent way. But he failed to reach the place he was aiming for, probably because the manipulators used various means to hide their identity. Operators who were cut off from the drone's field of vision due to the removal of the camera had to rely on visual manipulation, the report said.

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