Drones are evolving faster than defenses, and the gap is becoming a serious security risk.

Logan Harris, founder of Spotter Global, joins Matt O’Neill to explain how drone threats have shifted from RF-controlled systems to autonomous and fiber optic “dark drones” that are difficult to stop. With decades of experience in radar and defense technology, Logan shares how compact surveillance radar became a new category and why it is now critical for protecting infrastructure.

In this episode of Detonation Point presented by Elastio, you will learn how drone threats are changing, why traditional detection methods are falling short, and what the future of counter-drone defense looks like as AI and automation continue to advance.

Takeaways

• Drone threats are evolving faster than defensive technologies
• “Dark drones” cannot be stopped with RF jamming
• Radar is one of the most reliable ways to detect drones
• Effective defense requires a layered approach
• Low-cost drones create a cost imbalance for defenders
• AI and automation will shape future defense systems

Chapters

00:00 Origins of Compact Surveillance Radar

05:05 Evolving Threat Landscape: Drones and Surveillance

11:07 Understanding Dark Drones and Regulatory Challenges

15:27 Countermeasures: Jamming, Kinetic Responses, and Legalities

27:49 Future of Drone Technology: Automation and AI in Defense

About Our Founding Sponsor, Elastio 

This podcast is proudly presented by Elastio, the control point for cyber resiliency—because survival depends on clean recoveries. As our Founding Sponsor, Elastio continuously validates backups, bridging the gap between security tools and immutable storage. With AI-driven detection and zero-day recovery, Elastio ensures data is clean, uncompromised, and always recoverable. Learn more: www.elastio.com