Move In Response To Drone Sightings Closing Gatwick Airport Before Christmas

London's Heathrow and Gatwick airport are reportedly investing millions of dollars in drone defense systems similar to the system deployed by the military during the recent closure of Gatwick Airport due to multiple drone sightings just before Christmas.

The U.K. newspaper The Guardian reports that while the exact systems purchased have not been identified, Gatwick said through a spokeswoman that the airport had purchased a system that would provide a similar level of protection to that deployed by the military during the three-day shutdown of the airport that affected about 1,000 flights prior to Christmas. A Heathrow spokeswoman confirmed that the airport had invested in military-grade anti-drone equipment.

The systems are capable of tracking drones as much as six miles away, according to the report. The system can disrupt communication between the drone and its operator, and use a laser beam to destroy the drone should that be necessary.

"The safety of our passengers and colleagues remains our top priority. Working closely with relevant authorities including the Met police, we are constantly looking at the best technologies that help remove the threat of drones," the Heathrow spokeswoman said.

Other U.K. airports are expected to announce further investments in anti-drone systems, though they may not be on the same scale as those deployed at Gatwick and Heathrow.

Police are still searching for the person or persons responsible for the Gatwick disruption.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report