Al-Qaeda employs 22 tactics to avoid death-by-drone.
As al-Qaeda-linked militants fled the French assault in Mali, they left behind a trove of documents. The AP got their hands on some and discovered a list of tips that al-Qaeda circulated to its fighters on how to avoid being vaporized by drones.
So, what's their advice? Here it is in full:
1 â?? It is possible to know the intention and the mission of the drone by using the Russianmade â??sky grabberâ? device to infiltrate the droneâ??s waves and the frequencies. The device
is available in the market for $2,595 and the one who operates it should be a computerknow-how.
2 â?? Using devices that broadcast frequencies or pack of frequencies to disconnect the
contacts and confuse the frequencies used to control the drone. The Mujahideen have had
successful experiments using the Russian-made â??Racal.â?
3 â?? Spreading the reflective pieces of glass on a car or on the roof of the building.
4 â?? Placing a group of skilled snipers to hunt the drone, especially the reconnaissance
ones because they fly low, about six kilometers or less.
5 â?? Jamming of and confusing of electronic communication using the ordinary water-lifting
dynamo fitted with a 30-meter copper pole.
6 â?? Jamming of and confusing of electronic communication using old equipment and
keeping them 24-hour running because of their strong frequencies and it is possible using
simple ideas of deception of equipment to attract the electronic waves devices similar to
that used by the Yugoslav army when they used the microwave (oven) in attracting and
confusing the NATO missiles fitted with electromagnetic searching devices.
7 â?? Using general confusion methods and not to use permanent headquarters.
8 â?? Discovering the presence of a drone through well-placed reconnaissance networks and
to warn all the formations to halt any movement in the area.
9 â?? To hide from being directly or indirectly spotted, especially at night.
10 â?? To hide under thick trees because they are the best cover against the planes.
11 â?? To stay in places unlit by the sun such as the shadows of the buildings or the trees.
12 â?? Maintain complete silence of all wireless contacts.
13 â?? Disembark of vehicles and keep away from them especially when being chased or
during combat.
14 â?? To deceive the drone by entering places of multiple entrances and exits.
15 â?? Using underground shelters because the missiles fired by these planes are usually of
the fragmented anti-personnel and not anti-buildings type.
16 â?? To avoid gathering in open areas and in urgent cases, use building of multiple doors
or exits.
17 â?? Forming anti-spies groups to look for spies and agents.
18 â?? Formation of fake gatherings such as using dolls and statutes to be placed outside
false ditches to mislead the enemy.
19 â?? When discovering that a drone is after a car, leave the car immediately and everyone
should go in different direction because the planes are unable to get after everyone.
20 â?? Using natural barricades like forests and caves when there is an urgent need for
training or gathering.
21 â?? In frequently targeted areas, use smoke as cover by burning tires.
22 â?? As for the leaders or those sought after, they should not use communications
equipment because the enemy usually keeps a voice tag through which they can identify
the speaking person and then locate him.
(AP Photo)
