SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
Soto Cano Air Base has upgraded its base defense system with a newly installed counter-unmanned aircraft system called Dronebuster.
In 2023, Soto Cano was listed as one of over 250 installations slated to receive a suite of capabilities, including a monitoring system and six "defeat" systems.
The system was installed in January, and 24 members of the Army Forces Battalion Military Police Detachment at Soto Cano were trained on its use.
The detection system relies on a monitoring system to identify potential unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) flying within 10 kilometers of Soto Cano's airspace. Once an alert is received, military police personnel will use a compact, lightweight, handheld device to neutralize the unmanned aircraft.
By disrupting its frequencies, the defeat system causes the aircraft to either return to its operator or interrupt its flight navigation, making it inoperable.
"This system is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to proactively confronting the issues drones present to military and civilian populations," said Col. William Prince, commander of Army Support Activity at Soto Cano. "I am excited to be one of the first installations to receive this capability as part of the Defense Department's counter-UAS strategy. It will not only prove invaluable to the U.S. service members stationed here but will serve as another asset we bring to our partners' arsenal."
While installed and employed by U.S. forces stationed at Soto Cano, this defense system will benefit both the Honduran military, which has ownership of the installation, and the Comayagua International Airport, which utilizes the joint airfield.
UASs, also known as drones, pose several concerns for military and civilian agencies alike. Not only do they threaten regional stability by putting operational security at stake, but they can also create physical dangers to aircraft by infringing on already congested airspace.
According to a report released by the U.S. Defense Department, "a critical portion of our efforts, particularly in the near term, comes from improving our defenses, with an emphasis on detection as well as active and passive defense."
Last year, the department published a classified counter-UAS strategy to unify the approach to countering adversarial uses of drones. An unclassified fact sheet released in December 2024 outlined five ways the Defense Department plans to address this ever-evolving threat. Dronebuster is one way the department is working to disrupt, degrade and defend against UASs infringing on military airspaces.
Contractors from several private companies and military units worked together to install the new system and provide training to Soto Cano personnel, who will operate the system.