A series of drone raids in protected air spaces across Europe have placed the continent’s defenses in evidence. Airports are in a particularly vulnerable position, but what can be done?
The closing of Aalborg Airport in northern Denmark this week after the drones in its airspace is the latest in a series of airport stops caused by the devices.
Non -manned drones have also been signed at Esbjerg, Sondeborg and Skrydstru Airports – the latter, as well as Aalborg’s, is also used for the purposes of the Danish Royal Air Force. Earlier this week, sightings caused temporary suspension of flights at Copenhagen Airport, capital of the country.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said at a press conference that “it seems that this It was the work of a professional actor“Adding that“ it does not certainly seem a coincidence. It seems systematic. This is what I would define as a hybrid attack. ”
While police continue to investigate the case, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said that “it does not rule out in terms of those behind it.”
Although there is no confirmation that Russia is involved in the drone incident in Denmark, recent incursions of unmanned aircraft in eastern Europe led NATO to appeal to the action. In response to the entry of Russian drones into the Polish airspace in early September, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced that the alliance was launching a new operation, “Eastern Sentinel“To protect your eastern flank.
Danish authorities are only the latest to find drones difficult to identify and contain, and deal with them in an airport environment represents a set of challenges very different from those that are usually faced by the NATO or EU.
Why can’t airports prevent drone raids?
Drone, or some type of unmanned air vehicle, has been widely used by the military since the 1970s and is now a modern war feature, particularly in the Russian war in Ukraine. But technology has also quickly advanced in the commercial market, according to Richard Gill, founder and CEO of Security Company Drone Defense.
“Os drones are easier to get and use“He told DW.“ And the price is falling dramatically. People can now do things on their garden barracks that would require advanced military capabilities for only 10 or 15 years. ”
This represents a real problem for airports, which have to maintain strict controls on their airspace. “It has been demonstrated once again in the case of Denmark, that flying with drones on airports will lead to the suspension of air traffic,” Jukka Savolainen of the European Center for Excellence to combat Hybrid COE, DW. “No risk for aviation safety is tolerated“.
This precedent, which has already led to the closing of airports around the world – from New York and London to Dubai and Frankfurt – means that malicious people can cause serious disturbances. But the ease of access means that amateurs can also easily close an airport to deviate from their navigation.
Why can’t airports simply slaughter drones?
In wars, the drones are slaughtered. But while security agencies may have suspicions, it is often impossible to determine from a distance if a drone is military or recreational before disappearing from sight. Even when this is possible, there are significant concerns about security.
“It’s not easy to reach a kinetic projectile drone, so it is necessary to shoot many of them to achieve a satisfactory probability of hit,” said Savolainen of Hybrid Coe, who works to combat hybrid threats together with EU and NATO Member States. “Even if they reach, the vast majority of projectiles are such that they fall after the shooting. would not recommend shooting in densely populated areasunless the drone is seen as a source of immediate and dangerous threat. ”
Since the threat is difficult to evaluate at a distance and that airports are usually close to urban areas, the dangers of collateral damageadded to the cost of slaughtering a drone, make it virtually impossible. Gill adds that given the speed of drone development, there is a delay in legislation that leaves airports vulnerable.
“Not all airports have a detection system that can realize what is happening. So we usually depend on people on land, security team or members of the team reporting. And then, how do you respond to drones, who would shoot?” He asked. Commercial airports currently have no legal basis for driving drones.
What other ways are there to defend themselves against drones?
Unlike military or double -use air bases, strictly commercial airports, especially those that are not international hubs with good resources, do not have many tools available. Identifying radiofrequency drones, video broadcasts, radar or security cameras is among the preventive measures that airports have, although their arrest, even after being identified, remains a challenge.
There are a growing number of products directed to combat drones to both the commercial and military market. But update airport defense systems It’s an expensive business and would probably require constant updates.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’leary suggested that governments should bear the account of a problem they described as “annoying.”
“This It is a security issue for national governments. It’s not something you would ask for airports, ”he said.
The EU seems to some extent to accept this analysis. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on September 10 that Europe should “Build a Drone WallIn an attempt to contain the threat of new drone forays into sovereign airspace.
Nicknamed Eastern Flank Watch, the wall will be a cooperative project that involves Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with the aim of reinforcing defenses at EU’s oriental borders. The project will use similar to airport measurements, but crucially may also be able to shoot down threatening drones, although details about it are scarce. It will also be, according to information, much cheaper for use than current air defense systems, which were designed with more traditional manned aircraft and missiles.
“This is not an abstract ambition,” said von der Leyen on the plans. “It’s the basis of a reliable defense.”
