Measures against Drone Attacks by Terrorists

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the policies and ground efforts to leverage emerging technologies to counter drones; and (b) whether there will be a review of existing regulations on radio frequency signal jammers to enhance counter-drone measures.

Under the Air Navigation Act (ANA), unmanned aircraft are prohibited from flying within five kilometres of any airport, and over security-sensitive locations, without a permit. This covers Changi Airport and Jurong Island. Law enforcement officers can also end the flight or assume control of an unmanned aircraft, if it poses a risk to the public or is flown in a way that contravenes regulations under ANA.

Enforcement agencies have been building up their capability to counter safety and security threats posed by unmanned aircraft. This includes the ability to detect and identify the unmanned aircraft, locate its operator, or take down the aircraft safely.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority’s existing regulatory framework already allows equipment, such as signal jammers, to be imported and used for counter-drone measures carried out by enforcement agencies.