Countering the threat from drones
The European Commission has unveiled two new measures to effectively counter the threat from unmanned aerial systems.
In recent years, a number of incidents have been reported in EU countries, and beyond, related to involving unauthorised drone flight, many of which were caused by criminals or terrorist organisations.
These incidents have prompted the European Commission to take a common position and develop guidance and recommendations to EU Member States. The importance of responding to such threats is addressed in two new handbooks from the EU Joint Research Centre, which can significantly facilitate countering the threat of malicious drone use.
In the first publication on protecting critical infrastructure and public spaces from drones,
a five-phase approach is discussed outlining the key aspects of successfully securing an area against drone threats:
- First steps: Establishing the principles, objectives and requirements for a drone combat solution;
- Risk analysis: researching, analysing and documenting drone threats to a location and establishing a response plan;
- Solution design: matching business needs with potential solution architectures;
- Solution implementation: considerations for installation and testing of the solution;
- Solution operation: operating, maintaining and updating the solution.
The second publication deals with risk assessment and principles for physical reinforcement of buildings and public spaces. The document provides an insight into the physical security measures available, focusing on their typology, performance and limitations. It explores their advantages over more sophisticated technological solutions, focusing on the fact that they are cost-effective, multifunctional and not susceptible to technical failure.