The Association of Unmanned Aviation (UAV DACH) is warning of a patchwork approach to drone defence in Germany and Europe as a whole.
“As things stand today, Germany is unable to effectively and consistently protect its critical infrastructure and major public events from illegally operated drones,” the association said.
An amendment to the Air Security Act, submitted by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and approved by the Federal Cabinet, proposes that the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) can support the federal states in hazard prevention through administrative assistance. But Dr. Gerald Wissel, Chairman of the Board of UAV DACH said foundations are first needed. “We welcome the fact that Germany’s security architecture is to be adapted to new technological challenges. However, the proposed tightening of the Air Security Act is putting the cart before the horse. To ensure that this last resort is ultimately unnecessary, crucial foundations must be laid urgently, which are unfortunately receiving far too little attention in the current political debate.”
UAV DACH believes that the prerequisite for effectively countering illegally operated drones is a shared airspace situational awareness picture from all relevant authorities. The association adds that mandatory, tamper-proof electronic visibility of all participants in the lower airspace, using existing technologies such as ADS-L, is necessary to distinguish between legally and illegally operated drones at any given time.
“I can only reiterate that we urgently need a national task force, led by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, to coordinate the necessary measures for drone detection and countermeasures at the federal and state levels,” Dr. Gerald Wissel emphasised. “Only in this way can clear responsibilities be established, unilateral actions and a patchwork of measures be prevented, and a coordinated approach across Europe be ensured.”
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