We know drones have been used to keep an eye out on any sign of trouble at the Cannes Film Festival in France; have monitored large gatherings in Toronto, and even been used to give internet connectivity to communities.
And we know there has been software and hardware technologies developed to keep out drones from interfering with large gatherings of people; whether they are just being a nuisance or have more terrifying intentions.
But the FIFA World Cup is whole different ball game altogether.
That is why today we are covering the news that Fortem Technologies, an American company that specialises in airspace security and defence for detecting and defeating dangerous drones, has won a deal to be the counter drone technology provider at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In what the company has described as a major step in addressing the growing global threat of rogue UAVs, Fortem said it would be working with its distribution partner Smart Communication Systems to provide counter drone solutions for the Qatari Ministry of Interior and Safety and Security Operations Committee (SSOC) for the FIFA World Cup events taking place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022.
"The Government of Qatar understands the importance of providing comprehensive security from the ground to the air for the FIFA World Cup matches and beyond," said Timothy Bean, CEO of Fortem Technologies. "We are thrilled to be able to partner with Smart Communication Systems to provide the best counter-drone security to ensure the safety of players, sports fans, and everyone involved in putting together one of the most viewed global events in decades."
The most popular sporting event in the world, the World Cup attracts a huge number of visitors for the host country, with 2,4million people visiting South Africa for the 2010 World Cup; and 5million tourists checking into Russia at the time of the soccer tournament in 2018.
Obviously, keeping this people safe would be the priority for the hosting country, and in this matter, it seems the Qatari government is keen to leave no stone unturned.
We have covered several instances where industrial drones were abused for criminal purposes; none more poignant than an attempt on the life of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who escaped unharmed in November last year when three drones crashed into his home in Baghdad.
And there is always that case of a drone that appeared over the Brentford Community Stadium in London during a Premier League match between Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, which saw play being stopped for over 30 minutes over fears of player and crowd safety.
Clearly such incidences are something Qatar would not want to happen at a time when all the world attention will be glued towards the middle east nation.
"Fortem provides world class technology and services", says Engineer Captain Rashid Fahad Alali, Security Systems Officer in the Ministry of the Interior in Qatar and the Anti-Drone Program Leader in the SSOC. "We are pleased to partner with Fortem Technologies as an anchor vendor to enhance our security around Doha."
Fortem will deploy their SkyDome System, an award-winning counter drone solution that detects, defeats, and protects against rogue drones flying into unauthorised places. The SkyDome system classifies threats and mitigates them autonomously with its interceptor drone, the DroneHunter.
“At the heart of the Fortem SkyDome System is TrueView radar, a compact, AI-enabled, networkable radar designed to perform in urban environments and crowded, public places such as sports arenas and airports,” the company added in a statement.
In addition to providing an enhanced and unprecedented security level for the FIFA World Cup games, Fortem Technologies and Smart Communication Systems will continue to provide counter-drone systems to other important events and venues throughout the region.
"After much consideration of companies around the globe, Fortem's offerings outshined all competition," said Walid Chahine, Managing Partner of Smart Communication Systems, distribution partner of Fortem Technologies. "The world is at a point where enhanced security is becoming the norm, and we're determined to stay ahead of the curve."