Vatican fortifies skies with anti-drone arsenal for Pope's farewell
Due to the upcoming funeral of Pope Francis, heightened security measures are being implemented in the Vatican. According to "Corriere della Sera" daily's portal, anti-drone teams with advanced weapons have already been deployed.
In anticipation of the arrival of thousands of the faithful for Pope Francis's funeral, the highest level of security has been introduced in the Vatican. Anti-drone teams have been situated around St. Peter's Square to neutralise potential aerial threats. The media have released images showing troops with specially designed "rifles."
Equipment for combating drones
Photos from the Vatican mainly show equipment from the CPM brand, which is a tool with a drone-combat range of up to 700 metres. Specifically, this refers to the anti-drone weapon CPM DJI-120-4B.
The mentioned weapon is relatively light - it weighs approximately 17 kilograms including batteries, a backpack, and four directional antennas. The DJI-120-4B operates in the SAT band at 1500 MHz, Wi-Fi 2.4-2.5 GHz, and video band at 5.8 GHz. The system can block unmanned aerial vehicles at a distance of 700 metres. The CPM rifle, which is 90 centimetres long, is powered by BB2590 batteries, which allow for standby operation for 20 hours.
In the Vatican, security forces also have smaller anti-drone weapons - CPM Wilson. This is a three-band system resembling a pistol, powered by Li-Po batteries and capable of remaining in standby mode for 48 hours. Its range is about 500 metres.
Anti-drone weapons in the Vatican
Heightened security measures are a response to the expected crowds of faithful who wish to pay tribute to the deceased Pope. The Vatican authorities emphasise that the safety of participants is a priority, and all actions are aimed at ensuring peace during the ceremonies.
Heightened security measures also include traffic control around the Vatican and cooperation with international services, aiming to ensure the smooth conduct of the ceremonies.
