We should have the same thing around civilian airports. I fear it's just a matter of time before someone uses drones to bring down an airliner.
Like a bird strike only worse.
It’s a matter of time until Achmed can fly a drone swarm...can’t miss.
The FAA just issued regulations requiring drones weighting more than half a pound to be registered.
Seagulls are a major problem at many big city coastal airports. An average seagull weighs 1.5 to 2.5 lbs.
Florida, between Jan 1, 2015 and Oct 10th, reported 390 wildlife struck by aircraft. Nearly all were birds ( a few possums, racoons, etc.) ranging in size from swallows to turkey vultures.
http://wildlife.faa.gov/database.aspx
Aircraft are often tested by firing dead chickens at the windscreen or engines. The Brits asked to borrow a US “Chicken Cannon” to test a new design. The windscreen failed in the first several tests. Finally, the Brits emailed the Yanks asking for design recommendations.
The Yanks replied, “First, thaw the chicken.”
BTW I’ve hit an African Swift at 3,000ft altitude (Bell Jet Ranger) and a seagull shortly after takeoff one night at Cherry Point, NC (Sikorsky CH-53D) The seagull hit dead center on the nose avionics hatch, which acted like a drum head. Sounded like an explosion! No damage, just reset the circuit breaker on my pacemaker.. :-)