As part of New Mexico Tech’s upcoming recertification of the Drone Assessment and Response Tactics (DART) course—expected to be finalized by October—a new tool is being introduced to help participants better visualize the threat landscape posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The newly developed UAS Bomb Standoff Card is a compact, quick-reference guide that adapts FBI and DHS data on explosive safety distances specifically for drone-delivered threats.
Designed as a handy postcard-sized reference, the card breaks down evacuation and shelter-in-place distances based on the explosive weight a drone could realistically carry, factoring in both commercial and large-scale drone capabilities. From palm-sized consumer drones to industrial models with significant payload capacity, the tool helps illustrate a range of realistic threat scenarios.
The card also includes data provided by explosives expert Dr. Kirk Yeager. Dr. Yeager contributed calculations for the smallest category of drones, helping define the lower limits of potential explosive threats.
This “neat little package,” as one instructor put it, will be distributed to all course participants and is intended to serve as a practical tool in both training and operational planning. A visual of the card will also be available in future course materials and articles.