The Italian Army has confirmed that anti-drone jamming weapons first tested during the 2020 Prometo exercises were recently deployed for security purposes during the funeral of Pope Francis.
The Prometo 2020 exercise, held by the Counter Mini / Micro Remotely Piloted Aircraft Center of Excellence (CM / M APR) at the Foce Verde proving ground, was aimed at training anti-drone operators from anti-aircraft units and experimenting with new technologies to counter unmanned aerial systems. During the exercise, the Italian Army tested the WATSON handheld long-range multiband Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) jammer.
Developed by the CPM company, the WATSON system was designed to protect sensitive areas from drone intrusions. According to the manufacturer, the jammer is lightweight and portable, utilizing advanced jamming technologies to achieve an effective balance between performance and ease of use. Capable of operating on up to 15 different frequency bands, the WATSON system can disrupt common communication links between drones and their operators, including satellite networks and newer frequency technologies.
Italian Army conducts trials of advanced anti-drone jamming weapon. pic.twitter.com/ZpyePMuocE
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The WATSON can be deployed independently or integrated into larger radar-based Counter-UAS systems such as the CPM GUARD-ONE or other existing command-and-control platforms. In an integrated configuration, the jammer is guided toward targets using radio signals and an augmented reality interface, enhancing operator response and precision.
Following its development and initial testing in 2020, the WATSON jammer and similar portable anti-drone devices have been incorporated into security measures at various high-profile events. Most recently, these devices were visibly deployed during the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican. Italian military personnel were photographed carrying the portable systems, designed in the form of large rifles equipped with multiple antennas.
Military sources describe these devices as portable electromagnetic jammers that interfere with a drone’s communication signals, forcing it either to land safely or crash. By emitting powerful electromagnetic signals across key communication bands, such as the ISM 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands and GPS frequencies, the system can quickly sever the link between a drone and its operator.
This method of neutralization typically causes drones to either automatically return to their launch points, initiate a controlled landing, or lose control and descend. In some instances, more advanced systems may employ “GPS spoofing,” which sends false navigation data to redirect drones without immediate jamming.
The portable anti-drone systems used during the Vatican security operations are part of a broader effort by the Italian Army to respond to the growing security challenges presented by drones. These systems had previously been deployed during NATO missions in Kosovo in 2019, used during various operations between 2020 and 2022, and were part of international security operations at events such as the World Cup in Qatar.
The proliferation of commercial and hobbyist drones has necessitated the development and fielding of such countermeasures, particularly at events involving large crowds or high-profile figures. The use of the WATSON jammer and similar systems during Pope Francis’ funeral underscores the continued importance of counter-drone technologies in protecting public gatherings from potential aerial threats.
An Italian Air Force anti-drone unit in Rome with the WATSON anti-drone system manufactured by CPM.🇮🇹
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Military officials have indicated that ongoing updates to anti-drone protocols and equipment are part of their broader strategy to ensure that security forces are prepared for evolving aerial threats. The success of these systems at events such as the Vatican funeral ceremonies is seen as part of a larger trend toward integrating more portable and flexible counter-UAS solutions into standard operational procedures.
