Any unwitting drone enthusiast who flies their quadcopter near the front lines of the Ukraine conflict risks being immediately and accurately targeted with a barrage of artillery.
That’s thanks to a controversial piece of Chinese technology called AeroScope. The surveillance system is made by DJI, the world’s preeminent drone producer, and is able to detect the flight path of most DJI-branded devices and pinpoint exactly where the drone’s operator is standing.
DJI say AeroScope is intended only for law enforcement uses, but Mykhaylo, a drone expert from Ukraine’s Aerorozvidka organization, confirmed to RFE/RL that “unfortunately, examples exist” of Ukrainians being targeted and killed by Russian users of the system.
Aerorozvidka this week marks its eighth year of operation. The…
