Race is on to find the next-gen tech to take down swarms of enemy drones

Canada is at the cutting edge of new ways to defend against drone warfare.

The Suffield Research Centre in Alberta reached out to everyone and anyone from students to start-ups and multinational companies to come up with new approaches in the world of counter-drone technology.

BFBS Forces News travelled to watch its "sandbox" event, which saw 15 different research teams arrive to try out, develop and show off their latest ideas to down hostile drones.

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Techniques included the use of high-energy lasers, ultrasonic waves, 3D radar and interceptor drones which essentially catch the enemy drone in a net.

The research centre, located within a 2,800 square kilometre training area on the prairie in Alberta, specialises in drone technology.

The centre has its very own resident Red Team which provides an "enemy army" of 35 different types of drones.

These include everything from fixed-wing vertical take-off drones to tiny 249g consumer off-the-shelf models, which are flown in a variety of ways and formations to mimic enemy activity.

Suffield Research Centre will now provide feedback to the organisations that took part to help them further advance their cutting-edge counter-drone technologies.