CACI International, the defense and intelligence contractor, is working on a system that could soon track and overtake rogue drones flying too close to airports, an increasing concern of the Federal Aviation Administration as it struggles to regulate the proliferation of flying robots.

Once deployed, the company’s system could not only make aviation officials aware of where the unmanned aerial vehicles are but pinpoint the location of their operators, the company said. Using technology developed for the military, officials could also interfere with the drone’s signal and commandeer the vehicle so that it flies out of sensitive airspace.

Company officials discussed the new program Thursday as they released financial results for the quarter ended Sept. 30. The company reported that revenue grew nearly 1 percent, to $822.4 million.Earlier this month, the FAA announced its partnership with Arlington-based CACI to study how the drone-tracking technology works near airports. In an interview, CACI chief executive Ken Asbury said that the system could help law enforcement officials hunt illegal operators and keep drones from entering sensitive airspace.

Once a drone loses its signal, an “E.T. call home” device kicks in, Asbury said. “It’ll fly back to its operator. There could be a capability in the future where you could spoof the device and return it back to them.”


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