‘Protecting Critical Sporting Infrastructure’
Conference and Exhibition
November 6th 2024 Chepstow Racecourse
On Chepstow Military Raceday
Dive into the future of drone technology & security at the UK’s premier Counter-Unmanned Air Vehicle/Counter-Unmanned Air System (C-UAV/C-UAS) Exhibition & Conference.
Battlespace Publications is delighted to announce the launch of ‘Protecting Critical Sporting Infrastructure,’ to be held at Chepstow Racecourse prior to the Chepstow Military Raceday on November 6th 2024.
Counter drone is a hot topic in Government, there is renewed and increased focus on this subject with commitment to delivery at all levels of Government and Home Office. From the formation of new Police powers and private security legislation, infrastructure and venue protection to tracking and detection requirements to be built into drones at point of manufacture.
*Collaborate with policy makers, government agencies, and industry stakeholders who shape drone regulations and policy.
*Stay ahead of the curve with access to the latest innovations and trends in C-UAV/C-UAS technology and security.
*Forge strategic partnerships and alliances to enhance national security and safeguard critical infrastructure against evolving threats posed by unmanned aerial systems.
Gain unparalleled access to key stakeholders and potential partners. Engage with a targeted audience seeking solutions in C-UAS. evaluate the current landscape and inform future thinking and research. Our C-UAS Exhibition and Conference in the UK serves as the nexus where academia, policy makers, government officials, industry leaders, innovators, and drone manufacturers converge to shape the future of aerial security.
Governments are requesting EOIs for all areas of C-UAS. The MoD has issued a tender notice for C-UAS procurement with a spotlight on Electro-Magnetic DETECT and/or DEFEAT capabilities. Border Force, the prison service and CT Police are seeking solutions to the UAS threat. Drone incursions at sporting and music events are on the increase. With the announcement of Martyn’s Law to ensure stronger protections against terrorism in public places, the requirement for C-UAS systems is urgent.
As Paris builds up for hosting the forthcoming Olympics, a prime focus is the development and fielding of C-UAS systems to manage the skies over the venues and stadia, protecting them from a myriad of drone threats. A key factor in urban C-UAS scenarios compared to battlefield C-UAS is the limitation of the usage of kinetic and EW defeat systems. Urban sporting events require specialist C-UAS systems which can defeat the drone threat without damaging the infrastructure or jamming the radio spectrum.
In addition, a new drone incursion menace has emerged on racecourses and sporting stadia throughout the world. These incursions include illegal gambling syndicates who use drones to fly alongside live races to beam photos back to the syndicates to make on-the-spot bets, paparazzi and blog sites filming sportsmen and women and famous high net worth individuals, probing into their private and social life, and even terrorist organisations intent on disruption of these events. This menace has grown exponentially as drone technology develops.
Julian Nettlefold, publisher of BATTLESPACE, said: “The profile of sponsors and attendees at the Chepstow Military Raceday makes it a perfect forum for displaying the equipment available to racecourses to counter the drone incursion threats by illegal gambling syndicates. All the equipment on show has been battle proven and has protected the citizens of Ukraine in particular. Ian Cameron-Mowat has very kindly agreed to chair the event.”
Ian Cameron-Mowat, the former Head of Force Protection in the UK Ministry of Defence, said: Technology marches on, and the threat to sporting events from the illegal and sometimes dangerous use of drones is real, and is evolving at pace. This event gives us the chance to update ourselves on these threats, and on the technology which can counter them.”
Chepstow Racecourse General Manager Lindsay Knox said: “Drone incursions are on the rise and at ARC we have recognised this threat for some time and are working on solutions to counter this threat which clearly poses a danger to jockeys and horses. We are delighted that these companies have chosen Chepstow to showpiece their C-UAS solutions for racecourses.”
Jackson White, Business Development Director of Tactical Data Links and VP Marketing, SPX Communication Technologies said: ‘We’re delighted to support the inaugural Chepstow C-UAS Conference in its 2024 edition as Platinum sponsors, our presentation entitled ‘CUAS defeat challenges in public sporting events. Kinetic, RF and Interdiction defeats,’ centres on the challenges created by the current and growing UAS threats at public and sporting events.”
“We recognise the ongoing threat to sporting events and have developed a fully integrated, scalable and customisable system designed to detect, defeat and track hostile UAS and drones. We’re delighted to support the Chepstow Military Raceday in its 2024 edition, highlighting the importance of tech innovation to protect our critical sporting culture.”
The Conference is supported by BATTLESPACE Publications who will produce an issue for the event with special distribution during the event.
For Further information contact:
Julian Nettlefold, BATTLESPACE;
Notes to Editors:
The Chepstow Military Raceday was started by Julian Nettlefold in 2014 in memory of his late mother who cared for his father who was 100% disabled having lost both hands and an eye in World War 2. Since inception, the Raceday has raised over £300,000 for military charities including SSAFA, Combat Stress and the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The 2024 races are already sold to BATTLESPACE, Comtech, Hall & Watts, Spectra, platinum sponsor, SPX Communication Technologies and TVS and tables are already selling with local South Wales company BCB International Ltd being the latest new sponsor.
The 2023 Chepstow Military Raceday, was a record event hosting 200 guests and raising £26,500, showed a number of C-UAS systems which can be deployed immediately by Racecourses to counter the drone threat and bring the drones down before they enter the racecourse airspace and thus endanger the lives of horses and jockeys.
Companies showing C-UAS equipment at Chepstow 2023 included SPX Communication Technologies’ BLACKTALON C-UAS system which was on display at the Racecourse entrance. Working closely with SPX Communication Technologies was race sponsor Echodyne, the US radar specialist with four of its EchoShield radars displayed on the BLACKTALON system and in the restaurant. Other C-UAS companies attending the event included Openworks Engineering and Chess Dynamics.