The boundary between legal and illegal drone operation is clearly defined by law. If regulatory requirements are disregarded and drones are operated without the necessary evidence and authorisations, these are known as uncooperative drones. „These are criminal offences that are consistently prosecuted by the security authorities,“ emphasises Dr Gerald Wissel, CEO of UAV DACH.
Why airspace surveillance is indispensable
According to Stephan Kraschansky, CEO of the high-tech company Aaronia, espionage is currently the biggest threat posed by drones in the area of perimeter protection. „Commercially available drones from manufacturers such as DJI, Parrot and Xiaomi are ideal for spying on critical infrastructure in areas such as transport, energy and telecommunications,“ says Kraschansky. Company and test sites are also frequently the target of such activities.
The economic and security consequences of such attacks can be serious. After all, the loss of sensitive data or intellectual property poses a serious threat. “In addition, drones can sabotage IT and communication systems, for example by using IMSI catchers that intercept or disrupt signals,” emphasises Jochen Geiser, Head of Product Special Security Solutions at security expert Securiton. Such attacks can manipulate networks, block communication channels and significantly impair the coordination of security measures.
The transport of illegal objects such as drugs or weapons is also a growing challenge. Such incidents are increasing, particularly in secure areas such as prisons or restricted zones. The consequences range from economic damage and the destruction of essential facilities to physical dangers and an intensified threat situation.
Armed drones that can transport explosives and chemical or biological substances represent another acute danger. “In the future, the use of drones for terrorist attacks could become increasingly important,” says Stephan Kraschansky. Recent events in the Russian-Ukrainian war have shown how effectively even non-military drones can be used as weapons. “Videos of such missions circulating on social media could also inspire terrorist groups outside of war zones,” he warns, adding: “It is therefore crucial to integrate drone detection and defence quickly and comprehensively into perimeter protection.”