The European Commission presented its new Action Plan on Drones and Counter drone Security.
The commission sees the significant and growing security threat in drones which spans into different levels. That’s why the prepare an increased resilience of the EU ramping up technologies to develop and industrials production of drones and counter drones. The plan has 5 pillars:
- Investment where it really matters, meaning that there will be a mapping of civilian and military necessities
- A new approach to test new solutions with the aim to strengthening a network for multinational test and expertise centres for drones
- Providing Target safety requirements and certification scheme for counter systems.
- Interoperability as essential for drone counter drone producers must be able to scale production for civilian and military use
- Producing drones and counter drones at scale
Particularly important for the sector is that the plan wants to enhance preparedness for critical infrastructure which are under the CER directive. Also focusing on safety in the maritime domain, particular for threats and attacks by aerial, surface, and underwater drones. In addition to that it wants to enhance awareness in the domain to protect critical infrastructure and serve military needs.
The commission plans to launch a pilot action to enhance maritime domain awareness, which can be implemented by the Member states context in regional cable hubs, promoting coast guard cooperation and EMSA for example.
It will support a stronger co-operation between civilian and military actors to secure seaports because seaports cannot rely on military alone. This is the reason why the commission sees the necessity for civilian and military coordination for counter drones’ capacities must be approached as dynamic, adaptable and comprehensive network for both civilian security and defence purposes.
