A new million-dollar vehicle, designed to counter drone threats, has been added to the NYPD’s arsenal.
The New York Police Department has acquired an advanced vehicle capable of swiftly neutralizing drone attacks in New York City, as revealed by The New York Post.
Dubbed the Maverick Unmanned Aerial Systems mobile command unit, this vehicle might resemble an oversized SUV on the outside, but it’s equipped with its own drones, tucked away in hidden compartments, ready to deploy against hostile aerial devices, according to officials and other sources.
“This vehicle will enhance the NYPD’s counterterrorism capabilities, particularly in securing and protecting large-scale events and critical infrastructure,” the department stated in a public release on Thursday.
The city spent $984,280 on this high-tech Chevy Suburban, which outwardly appears similar to standard five-seaters used by numerous police forces, as detailed in the contract accessed by The Post.
However, what truly sets the Maverick apart is its concealed capabilities, as disclosed by its manufacturer, FlyMotion LLC, based in Tampa, Florida.
“Maverick is a versatile dual-purpose solution that seamlessly transitions between serving as a regular patrol vehicle and a powerful Command and Control hub for unmanned systems,” according to the company’s website.
The vehicle is much more maneuverable and able to respond more stealthily to emergencies than the NYPD’s other drone-command vehicle, which is a van, a law enforcement source said.
“They can pull over and launch drones from portable drone compartments,” the source said, adding that the vehicle also has a screen for live feeds from detection drones to monitor the skies for danger.
The NYPD didn’t immediately respond to specific questions about the Maverick’s abilities. One official said he hopes it is armed with software that allows the NYPD to take control of hostile drones.
“At a million dollars, I’m hoping that they put [in] the software for drone mitigation,” the source said. “It’s just like jail-breaking into another device.”
Last year, the department bought Sky Motion’s Trident Series Command Center with Drone Detection nodes. The Trident is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van that works as a mobile drone command and control center.
The customized vehicle cost the department $500,000, a law enforcement source said.
The NYPD was recently awarded a $6.5 million Federal Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems grant and the command centers are part of the city’s strategy to fight against possible drone attacks at upcoming events, including the massive celebration of the country’s 250th birthday in New York Harbor this summer.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced on Feb. 10 that federal authorities are preparing to authorize the department to neutralize hostile drones. President Trump was expected to give the final authorization.
The Post reported exclusively in June that the NYPD was moving toward purchasing the Iron Drone Raider, a system that uses nets to take down drones.
The tech from American Robotics uses “interceptor drones” to hunt hostile devices with radar, then fires a lightweight mesh net that entangles the target’s rotors. A parachute then allows the drone to float down to the ground.
