UAE Deploys 'Cope Cages' to Counter Iranian Drone Attacks
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has installed a low-cost defense system to counter slow-moving Iranian drones targeting oil storage tanks. The 'cope cages' consist of heavy steel frameworks and mesh placed above and around the fuel tanks, designed to intercept incoming one-way attack drones or force them to detonate before reaching the tanks.
The protective structures were built over four months after work began in May, following repeated Iranian attacks on strategic UAE infrastructure. The decision to install the 'cope cages' comes after a series of attacks during the US-“Israel” war with Iran, where UAE air defences reported engaging 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,265 unmanned aerial vehicles.
The incident that prompted additional protective measures was when a fuel tank at Dubai International Airport was directly struck by an explosive-laden Iranian drone on March 16. The attack led to a temporary closure of airspace and generated a large plume of smoke.