Defence technology and equipment in the aviation industry
Defense technology and equipment in the aviation industry
The aviation industry is responsible for the safety of billions of passengers that take to the skies every year. There are evergrowing threats to aviation in the form of terrorism, cyber-attacks, airborne threats, and countless other potential dangers. To combat this, the aerospace and defense industry has devised a number of defense technologies and equipment to keep the skies safe. In this article, we are going to look at the latest industry innovations that are protecting the aviation industry.
Screening technology
Screening technology has been in the aviation industry for decades at this point with x-ray machines first being implemented to check passenger luggage for contraband. Modern x-ray machines use diffraction technology to determine what substances might be in luggage, such as liquid explosives.
Full-body scanners have become one of the more commonly used forms of screening technology for the aviation industry. Transmission security scanners can provide full-body images of passengers and let security staff search for swallowed contraband or items hidden within the body.
Biometrics
Biometric technology is another defense technology that allows airlines to accurately identify individuals based on their unique traits. Facial recognition software can be used to detect fake passports or to identify known, wanted criminals. This is a streamlined way of performing security at airports and improves defense without impacting efficiency.
Early warning systems
Early warning systems, such as the Saab GlobalEye, are a type of radar system that is performed mid-flight. An electro-optic/infrared sensor turret is attached to an aircraft which provides surveillance for airspaces. They have a range that spans hundreds of kilometers which allows for the early detection of incoming threats such as missiles and unknown aircraft.
The early warning systems are integrated to communicate with air traffic controllers and keep them informed of any changes or known threats picked up by the system. It is an incredibly robust system that can handle incredibly fast objects such as missiles to slow, low-flying helicopters.
Cyber security
Cyber security is quickly becoming the biggest challenge for aviation defense and security. As technology continues to advance, there are more threats to the various systems required for aviation. Cybercriminals directly target important infrastructures such as air traffic control hardware and software. Criminals hack into airport servers to steal information, corrupt software, and damage systems. To combat these threats, cyber security tools have been developed to keep unwanted intruders out of protected information systems.
Bespoke software solutions applied to areas such as air traffic management and radar can help secure the aviation industry and protect it against these types of threats. Cyber threat intelligence is becoming more important and security monitoring services are running constantly to protect airlines from cyber attacks.
Many of these solutions are cloud-based, so even if hackers manage to penetrate a system there is no way that they can stop the defense systems from kicking in. Other tools that have shown to be incredibly useful to the aviation industry include vulnerability management and collaboration protection. Ultimately, it is about keeping the most vital aspects of the aviation industry safe and secure from prying eyes.