Utilities lack tools to guard power grid from drone attacks

Drones have become ubiquitous in modern warfare, from Ukraine to the Middle East. The United States military is finding drones a difficult threat to counter — and even well-funded electric utilities do not have the budget of the U.S. military.

“The electric grid was never designed with aerial threats in mind,” said Charlie O’Connell, chief business officer of Fortem Technologies, an airspace security firm.

There have been drone attacks on the U.S. electric grid, but the threat is relatively new. In 2021, federal law enforcement issued a warning to state and local officials about an incident the year before where a crashed drone appeared to have been modified to “specifically target energy infrastructure.”

Read more at Utility Dive