Review of "The al-Qa'ida Papers - Drones"

Overview

Recently, The Associated Press found several documents in buildings occupied by alleged al-Qa'ida fighters in Timbuktu, Mali.  These papers have since been publically released on the AP's website in the original Arabic and a translation in English.  One of the released documents was entitled "The al-Qa'ida Papers - Drones," and appears to give several different tips on how to avoid detection by overhead unmanned military drones.  It was written by Abdullah bin Mohammed on June 17, 2011.

Below will be a copy of the original English translation text, along with some notes and comments on if these methods could actually be effective.

Tactics

1.)  It is possible to know the intention and the mission of the drone by using the Russian-made "sky grabber" device to infiltrate the drone's waves and the frequencies.  The device is available in the market for $2,595 and the one who operates it should be a computer know-how.

SkyGrabber is an "offline" satellite downloader.  It can intercept satellite traffic (video, movies, music, pictures, data, etc.) that is being sent by other satellite users/broadcasters and records the raw information to your hard drive.  It does require compatible DVB satellite receiving hardware, a low-noise block converter, and a parabolic dish antenna.  Metadata embedded within the raw MPEG video streams often provides important operational details, including the drone's GPS coordinates.  Predators, and other military drones, often use commerical SATCOM satellites for the video/data feeds when operating in non-Line-of-Sight (LOS) modes.  An external frequency tranverter will need to be used to intercept any video/data on the drone's C-band LOS links.  This is to convert the 5.2 - 5.9 GHz range down to the satellite receiver's IF (950 - 1750 MHz) range.

2.)  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 Racal.

You'd need to jam the Ku-band receiver on either the drone itself (10.95 - 12.75 GHz) or the orbiting satellite (13.75 - 14.50 GHz).  This is theoretically doable, but would require a fair amount of RF jamming power and a steerable parabolic dish - and you'd probably need to be above the operating drone!  Racal is a British defense contractor who makes high-quality military radios.

3.)  Spreading the reflective pieces of glass on a car or on the roof of the building.

No!  This would actually make it easier for an orbiting drone to follow you, not to mention being a great reflector for the laser designator used for laser-guided bombs and Hellfire missiles.

4.)  Placing a group of skilled snipers to hunt the drone, especially the reconnaissance ones because they fly low, about six kilometers or less.

Easier said than done...  Shooting a drone that you can't see, can't hear, and is flying at over 15,000 feet while 5 miles out isn't something you can do without alot of luck - and a fire control radar.  Maybe when it's taking off or landing, but getting that close to a military base isn't easy.

5.)  Jamming of and confusing of electronic communication using the ordinary water-lifting dynamo fitted with a 30-meter copper pole.

Not sure what this means, but it doesn't sound like it would work.

6.)  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.

You'd need to use real RF noise jammers at the drone's Ku-band, C-band, L1 & L2 GPS, and IFF frequencies.  BTW, your jamming gear will make nice targets for anti-radiation weapons and direction finding gear, so make sure it's set up to not give away your location.

I'm not sure if the NATO/microwave oven legend is true or not.  A microwave oven's emissions could possibly look like a 2.45 GHz CW illumination radar to some anti-radiation missiles.

7.)  Using general confusion methods and not to use permanent headquarters.

Could possibly work...  No central location makes it theoretically harder to track you down - but it will also make it harder to operate and secure as you're always on the move and would need to plan everything out ahead of time.

8.)  Discovering the presence of a drone through well-placed reconnaissance networks and to warn all the formations to halt any movement in the area.

Could possibly work...  It's really difficult to spot orbiting drones via your "eyes and ears."  Portable radar sites based on salvaged and hacked marine radars (S- and X-bands) and interferometer-type surveillance gear to "listen" for the drones propeller could possibly work.

Detecting the drone's active RF emissions may also be possible.  The fairly high-power Ku-band SATCOM uplinks may be detectable on the ground via tropospheric scatter, depending on the weather conditions.

9.)  To hide from being directly or indirectly spotted, especially at night.

No!  When using thermal imaging devices, moving at night would actually make you stand out even more!  To counter thermal imaging systems, it's best to move around during dawn or dusk, when the general background thermal contrasts are changing - or when it's raining.  It would also be best to move during the daytime and within a large group of (similar) people.

10.)  To hide under thick trees because they are the best cover against the planes.

Possible, but thermal imaging devices will still find you under cover.  Remember that the drones can loiter over the same area for 12+ hours, and you'd have to move sooner or later.

11.)  To stay in places unlit by the sun such as the shadows of the buildings or the trees.

Again, this won't to anything if thermal imaging devices are being used, and purposely moving around in the shadows would probably make you look even more suspicious to the drone operator.

12.)  Maintain complete silence of all wireless contacts.

True.  Any radio/optical/acoustic communication system can be intercepted and "direction found."  But if do need to communicate, use fast frequency-hopping, or other type of spread spectrum system, operating at the microwave frequencies and with strong encryption to minimize interception.  60 GHz microwave links are also naturally attenuated by the atmosphere.  Laser-based communication systems can be very secure for point-to-point operations, but are difficult to aim.

You can mask general VHF/UHF radio traffic by transmitting on a frequency which is close to the video/audio carrier of a high-power FM or TV broadcast station.  This is to help hide (somewhat) your lower power transmission within the higher power transmission.  This is an old trick which everyone knows, though...

13.)  Disembark of vehicles and keep away from them especially when being chased or during combat.

Yeah, just before the vehicle explodes you should probably get out and run!

14.)  To deceive the drone by entering places of multiple entrances and exits.

Drones can loiter in the same general area at an altitude of 5,000 to over 25,000 feet, and are able to watch the same target for may hours.  You better have a proper escape planned ahead of time...

15.)  Using underground shelters because the missiles fired by these planes are usually of the fragmented anti-personnel and not anti-buildings type.

True, but there are several different models of the AGM-114 Hellfire missile designed for all different kinds of targets.  The 500 pound GBU-12 Paveways which Predators/Reapers can also carry can usually penetrate most underground or hardened shelters.

16.)  To avoid gathering in open areas and in urgent cases, use building of multiple doors or exits.

True, it's probably best to use the general population (and their travels) for your own cover.

17.)  Forming anti-spies groups to look for spies and agents.

True, keep an eye out for any person(s) with a last name containing Cohen, Rosen, Berg, Stein, Stern, Katz, Levy, Baum, Fried, Gold, Silver, Leib, Frank, Witz, etc.

18.)  Formation of fake gatherings such as using dolls and statutes to be placed outside false ditches to mislead the enemy.

This is unlikey to fool modern electro-optical sensors, maybe only for a short period of time.  It would be funny to see a blow-up doll with a hair dryer stuck in it...

19.)  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.

True, but detecting the drone in the first place is where the real challenge is.  Be sure to use a "GBPPR Battlefield Laser Warning Receiver" as covered in GBPPR 'Zine, Issue #109.

20.)  Using natural barricades like forests and caves when there is an urgent need for training or gathering.

Should work, but finding the proper natural barriers quickly may by diffcult and they may even be under surveillance before you reach them.  Others will be looking for these natural barriers, too...

21.)  In frequently targeted areas, use smoke as cover by burning tires.

Smoke screens can block most electro-optical sensors for a short period of time, but in reality, burning tires will just cause your eyes to sting and you won't be able to breathe!  A proper smoke screen should be deployed upon detection of an enemy laser designator, though.

22.)  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.

True, almost all voice radio or telecommunication traffic is trivial to intercept and record for future processing.  Text-to-speech systems could be used to mask any voice communication, if needed.