Drone defense for Great Britain: New technology in the fight against Russia!

Drone defense for Great Britain: New technology in the fight against Russia!

At a time when the threat from drones is increasing worldwide, the company DefSecIntel has developed a novel concept known as the “Drone Wall”. This system combines mobile and static sensors to detect enemy attacks and could help deter Russian aggression. CEO Jaanus Tamm emphasizes that the technology is relatively inexpensive, but requires significant investment and trained personnel to build effective drone defense. The UK government is investing £4 billion in autonomous systems and is planning various digital integration measures to address this challenge. Express reports that the British radar systems have vulnerabilities that are exploited by people smugglers, among others.

A significant issue is that Britain was not actively involved in the talks in Copenhagen, where EU leaders pushed ahead with plans to develop drone defenses on NATO's eastern borders. Meanwhile, experts warn that critical infrastructure, such as wind farms, are vulnerable to attacks by explosives-laden drones. Sibylline's Justin Crump finds the UK is lagging behind on drone defense and calls for faster responses to impending threats. Lady Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5, underlines the urgency of action by declaring that Britain is already at war with Russia.

Regional threats and international responses

The situation is not limited to the UK. In Europe, increased airspace violations by Russian drones are leading to worrying situations. During a video conference on September 26, EU defense ministers reported incidents in which unauthorized drones were able to violate Polish and Romanian airspace. Danish and Norwegian airports were temporarily closed due to such incidents. RFE/RL highlights that the ministerial discussions aim to coordinate the use of sensors and jammers for effective drone defense.

An alarming example occurred when around 20 Russian drones crossed Polish airspace on September 9 and 10, leading to the activation of NATO interceptors. Romania also recently reported similar incidents. Eyewitnesses reported seeing UAVs with glowing lights, prompting authorities to classify the activity as hybrid and coordinated without naming a clear culprit. These incidents highlight the danger posed by low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as they can cause serious disruption to European civil and military airspace without leading to direct military conflict.

Internal security in Germany

In view of these developments, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced that he will invest more in internal security and plan a comprehensive reform of the Aviation Security Act. Dobrindt emphasizes the need to efficiently detect, deter and intercept drones. The time reports an impending “arms race” between the drone threat and the corresponding defensive measures in Germany.

In recent weeks, increased airspace violations, including at Aalborg Airport in Denmark, have further fueled the discussion about the safety of European airspace. Dobrindt also criticized voices from the AfD who do not want to recognize Russia's hostile intentions. He makes clear that Germany finds itself in a new reality in which hybrid warfare poses a serious threat.