What it is
WHAT IT IS
The DEW-002 is a handheld optical disruption device designed to interfere with the visual sensor systems of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) which have been weaponized and are being used illegally.
These platforms, originally developed for civilian or recreational purposes, are now routinely modified for hostile, criminal, and dangerous applications.
The DEW-002 uses controlled light output and beam patterning to create visual interference within a defined area, reducing a drone’s ability to maintain stable video, navigation, and situational awareness.
The system does not physically capture, damage, or destroy drones.
Its function is limited to optical disruption of camera-based systems.
The device is intended for lawful civilian use in environments where unauthorized weaponized drone activity presents a safety, or operational risk.
HOW IT WORKS
Weaponized drones, excluding the Shahed / Geran class, rely on one thing:
the operator’s ability to acquire and maintain a target using the drone’s camera.
Whether remotely piloted or semi-autonomous, most small weaponized drones still depend on real-time optical input for target identification, final approach guidance, and impact alignment.
FPV kamikaze drones are typically flown at high speed and low altitude on a direct approach path. At these speeds, even brief visual disruption can reduce situational awareness, delay reaction time, and interfere with precise steering control. Without a stable camera feed, accurate targeting becomes difficult.
The DEW-002 introduces controlled optical interference into the drone’s camera system.
This interference degrades image clarity, exposure stability, and usable visual data during critical moments of flight.
The system does not destroy the drone and does not guarantee a crash.
Its function is to disrupt visual control.
Even a momentary interruption can give a defender the opportunity to get off the X — breaking line-of-sight, moving away from the threat, and reducing exposure during an attack window.
ADDITIONAL MITIGATION SCENARIOS
While the DEW-002 is designed to disrupt a drone operator’s ability to maintain visual control, additional effects have been observed when optical interference is applied to camera-dependent sUAS platforms.
Independent military analysis has documented that intense visual disruption can interfere not only with a drone’s video feed, but also with its ability to maintain stable flight, particularly in small quadrotor systems that rely heavily on optical sensors for navigation and control.
In controlled evaluations referenced by U.S. Army–affiliated technical publications, laser-based optical interference was shown to:
• Disrupt visual tracking
• Interfere with stabilization systems
• Cause erratic flight behavior
• In some cases, contribute to loss of controlled flight
These effects were observed primarily in small, camera-guided drones operating at short to moderate range, where optical input plays a dominant role in flight control.
The DEW-002 applies controlled optical interference using a wide-area light field rather than a single-point source.
This approach increases the likelihood that the drone’s camera sensor is exposed to disruptive visual input during critical phases of flight.
Outcomes depend on multiple variables, including drone design, sensor type, distance, lighting conditions, and flight profile.
No specific result is guaranteed.
However, real-world and military observations confirm that optical disruption can affect more than just the video feed in visually guided drones.
While the beam from the DEW-002 is visible and measurable at extreme distances under controlled conditions, the recommended operational range for civilian defensive use is 50 yards. This distance represents the optimal balance of effectiveness, situational awareness, and responsible deployment when protecting your own property. The DEW-002 is designed for close-to-mid range threat mitigation—not for engaging objects beyond your immediate area of control. Operating within this range helps ensure safe, lawful, and purposeful use consistent with its intended role as a property defense system, not a long-range engagement tool.
