The Skynet interceptor system has been used many times to detect and intercept drones at significant events and in key venues, according to a report from Beijing Youth Daily.

From recording TV programs to weddings to aerial shoots for photographers, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are widely used in daily life. However, people should take notice of their potential safety hazards. According to the official Weibo account of the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC), during the 2016 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, Skynet (which was developed by CASIC) detected and intercepted a drone flying over the Guangzhou parallel session of the gala.

The corporation wrote on its official Weibo account that the system is used to safeguard important activities and venues. Once a small-size UAV is found in where it should not be, the system shoots it down.

A CASIC employee told Beijing Youth Daily that they were invited to guard the 2016 CCTV Spring Festival Gala Guangzhou session by the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau on Jan. 28. Three staff members arrived in Guangzhou on Feb. 5 to prepare for the work.

The employee also said that on the eve of the Spring Festival, UAVs were deployed to give a performance to the gala audience. "The consequences are hard to imagine if a strange drone had flown into the performance parade. Therefore, the device was programmed with a range of 180 degrees, and is able to scan for objects at low altitude, low speed, and of small size," the employee said.

According to the report from Beijing Youth Daily, Skynet is an innovative product that provides low-altitude aerial security.

Some netizens worried that shooting down drones would put citizens’ safety at risk. In response, the corporation wrote on its official Weibo account that the system uses a soft-damage network intercept technology and is not equipped with real missiles.

Another worker on the Skynet project told Beijing Youth Daily that this interception technology can detect, track, locate and intercept small-size aircraft at low altitudes and low speeds, including aviation models, air trikes, paramotors and kites. The worker also said that a special net is used to intercept uninvited drones.

The intercepted drones land with the help of a parachute and will not hurt anyone or anything on the ground.

According to the CASIC employee, the drone intercepted during the 2016 Spring Festival Gala belonged to a local citizen who guided his drone into the live area.

At present, the Skynet system has provided security services for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, the 3rd meeting of the BRICS countries’ leaders, the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2011, Chairman Mao’s birthday commemoration, the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games and other major domestic and foreign events.