Europe woke up to hostile drones – Henna Virkkunen presented countermeasures

Dozens of hostile drone attacks were proven in Europe last year. They were made near military targets, energy infrastructure and airports in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, among others.

One of the most serious drone attacks took place in September in Poland, when 19 drones linked to Russia invaded Polish airspace.

To address the growing threat of drones, the Commission unveiled a broad plan presented by the Commission’s Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen.

“Drones have violated the airspace of the member states, disrupted the operations of airports and caused near misses with civilian aircraft,” Virkkunen described the drone threat experienced by Europe.

According to Virkkunen, the malicious or irresponsible use of drones affects the protection of critical infrastructure, external borders, ports, traffic and public spaces, as well as maritime safety and energy supply.

“These threats directly affect the security of our citizens, disrupt our economy, and also undermine the public’s sense of security,” the commission’s senior vice president said.

According to Virkkunen, Europe’s effective response to drone threats requires a comprehensive, coordinated and targeted approach that combines civil and military dimensions as well as NATO and the EU.

Although Member States are ultimately responsible for responding to drone threats, the EU can add value by supporting these efforts.

Rules and cooperation

According to Virkkunen, in order to respond to drone threats, the EU must strengthen its industrial capacity, support innovation and funding, and increase agile testing environments.

The Commission intends to establish an industry forum focused on drones and their countermeasures, and to update the rules on unmanned aviation so that drones can be identified and tracked more effectively than at present.

The Commission also intends to support member countries by promoting anti-drone systems based on joint procurement. The selection of means also includes a drone safety toolkit to be prepared with the member countries.

The commission also proposes an annual large-scale drone exercise to test cross-border cooperation and civil-military cooperation.

In addition, the Commission continues to support Frontex by providing drones and technology for border control.

Fighting drone swarms

Commission vice-president Virkkunen emphasized the importance of a secure 5g infrastructure in identifying, tracking and jamming drones.

In the current threat environment, especially when the use of drone swarms increases, 5g networks play a key role in drone detection.

5g networks enable accurate, real-time tracking of flying objects, which is essential for airspace safety. To ensure the rapid deployment of this technology, the Commission is opening a call for Member States and industry to pilot 5g-based detection systems.

The Commission also intends to support the development of European, artificial intelligence-based command systems and evaluate the establishment of a rapid counter-drone readiness force.

According to Virkkunen, the commission’s new plan is not just a statement, but a concrete action tool, the purpose of which is to eliminate the current siloing and increase cooperation between civilian and military actors and the public and private sectors.

Next, the Commission will start discussions with the Member States and industry on the implementation of the plan.