Kansas City Buys $11.4 Million Counterdrone System for World Cup Security

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24

$11.4 million in FEMA funding let Kansas City buy sensors and radars to detect and identify private and commercial drones across the city during World Cup matches.
The purchase closes a gap in the police department’s drone program, which has flown nine city-owned drones to accidents and crime scenes for more than a year but could not track outside aircraft.
Armed-drone threats to crowds and critical infrastructure have become a central security concern for U.S. host cities as cheap drones reshape protection planning for major events.
Officials expect the World Cup buildup to leave behind a lasting counterdrone capability, giving local law enforcement tools to detect, track and, if needed, neutralize hostile drones.