Defence against drone swarms emerges from Russian lab

The attack on Abqaiq (pic), the world’s biggest oil-processing facility, and an oil field at Khurais last year marked the first time multiple drones were launched long-distance in a targeted assault with such damaging consequences. — AFP

When a swarm of drones and missiles attacked Saudi oil facilities last September, knocking out 5% of global production, one Russian company sensed an opportunity to build up its business.

Concern Avtomatika JSC – in Soviet times a secret military laboratory and now a state-run cybersecurity developer – saw a greater need among oil producers to defend their facilities from aerial assault. It has since sold anti-drone systems to Russian energy companies and is in talks to add clients abroad.