The National Police Authority of Japan plans to deploy drone jammers as early as April to prevent terrorist attacks and accidents involving the flying vehicles in a series of major events across the country.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is the first to take the necessary steps to obtain permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to use these devices.
The signal jammer block the radio signal between the drone and the remote control in areas where no aircraft is allowed to fly. Even in the peripheral areas, the transmitters are used. The affected drones either sink slowly to the ground or are returned to their owner. However, there is also the possibility that they simply get stuck in the edge area.
The NPA received an extra budget for anti-drone measures in the supplementary budget for the financial year 2018 and also in the coming budget. In the financial year 2019 alone, a total of 1.4 billion yen (just over 11 million euros) has been approved.
The first major event involving the jammer will probably be the abdication of Emperor Akihito on April 30th. These herald the end of the Heisei era. On the first of April, Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the throne and begins the Reiwa period.
In addition, the first G20 summit in Japan will take place in Osaka at the end of June. Shortly thereafter (September to November) the country organizes the Rugby World Cup. In July next year, Tokyo will host the Summer Olympics and the Paralympics.
The NPA considers it essential to take action in the fight against drones, especially to prevent terrorist attacks. So the numerous visitors of the different events should be better protected.
In April 2015, a crashed drone was found on the roof of the Prime Minister’s office in Tokyo, belonging to a man who strongly opposed the government’s energy policy.
As part of this event, the Tokyo Police Department was the first in the country to introduce large drones designed to capture suspicious aircraft with a net. She set up her own separate unit.