Due to the recent increase in sightings of illegally operated unmanned aerial systems, the discussion about the detection and defense against uncooperative drones has gained significant momentum in recent weeks. With the temporary closure of Danish airspace to all civilian drone traffic, a new level of escalation has been reached in this regard. On the one hand, it is understandable that the Danish government felt compelled to take this measure due to various high-level meetings at the EU level that will take place in Denmark in the coming days. On the other hand, however, this is a signal that the European drone economy views with concern. Measures such as these have the potential to hinder the development of the UAS industry in the long term. They should therefore only be used as a last resort in absolutely exceptional cases.
This makes it all the more important to establish clear and practical regulations as soon as possible to protect critical infrastructure from uncooperative drones. These regulations should range from suitable technical procedures for the electronic visibility of all airspace participants to technical and operational measures for the physical defense against illegally operated drones. In a joint working group with the German Aerospace Industries Association, experts from UAV DACH have developed specific recommendations for action for the German federal government, which could also be promoted at the European level. At a parliamentary breakfast on October 7, 2025, in Berlin, politicians from all parliamentary groups will first be informed and the package of measures developed will then be presented to the public.
UAV DACH is committed to safe and economically sustainable UAS flight operations. This also includes technical and regulatory frameworks for dealing with uncooperative, illegally operated drones. The longer binding and practical regulations are lacking, the greater the obstacles to commercial UAS use in Germany and Europe. The association for unmanned aviation is therefore ready to support the relevant ministries and authorities at national and European level in this important task.