The emergence of terrorist drones flown by ISIS in Iraq has fueled interest in drone-defense technology – while raising questions about whether the U.S. is ready for potential drone terrorist attacks on the homeland. Over the last six months, ISIS has increased its use of weaponized and surveillance drones against Iraqi and U.S. forces. U.S. Central Command told Fox News coalition troops have as many as 30 encounters a week with unmanned aerial vehicles. These drones are inexpensive ones modified to drop grenades or to surveil troop movements. Underscoring the accessibility and affordability of these drones: During the last two months, the U.S. military has destroyed at least five ISIS drone facilities, including one factory and four storage facilities.

US-based tech firm Department 13 has shown off its anti-drone device Mesmer, which takes control of intruding drones and forces them to land. The ASX-listed firm's esky-sized device is intended for the protection of a fixed site, such as an airport, where it can use existing radar to detect intruding drones. Previous methods to deal with nuisance drones have ranged from blasting it from the sky with a shotgun, snaring it in a net, or shooting in with an anti-drone drone -- the US military has used Hellfire missiles and 30 kilowatt shipboard lasers to destroy drones. The agency warned local law enforcement of the emerging threat that drones pose. Conversely, Department 13 worked on a method that reduced the risk of any potential danger to nearby personnel or infrastructure.