Going one up on all the sitcom jokes about drones, the French Air Force has turned to a new ally: eagles that catch drones. It’s in some ways not so new: Just a modern-day extension of falconry, using a bird to capture prey.
France is concerned that terrorists could use drones as part of an attack, and that conventional means such as shooting one down might endanger people below, especially during big events such as Bastille Day, or the finish of the Tour de France.
The eagles, hatched from eggs acquired by the air force last spring, began training over the summer, using methods developed in the Netherlands. The birds are trained with drones smeared with food, and learn to regard them as prey. They are expected not only to intercept drones, but to detect them.
