Recent drone sightings have caused concern in several European countries. In the Netherlands, soldiers discover unknown missiles at the Volkel base and use their weapons. However, the drone managed to escape.
The Dutch military said it shot down a drone over an air base on Friday evening. The Defense Ministry said staff at the Volkel base in the country’s southeast near the German border spotted the drone between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“Air Force members used ground weapons to shoot down the drone,” he said in a statement. However, the drone escaped and could not be intercepted. According to the ministry, it is unclear why the drone was flying in an area where it was not permitted.
Major incident in September
In recent months there have been drone sightings and airspace violations in several EU countries. In September, more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO to deploy fighter jets and “Patriot” anti-aircraft systems.
Drones have also reportedly attacked military bases and critical infrastructure in Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Denmark, sometimes causing significant disruption to flight operations at airports. In early November, Belgium reported, among other things, sightings of a nuclear power plant near Antwerp. The rise in incidents has prompted European Union leaders to discuss strengthening air defenses.
Federal Cabinet Plan Legal changes
In Germany, the new Federal Cabinet introduced changes to the Aviation Security Law on Wednesday. By doing this, the federal government wants to strengthen the Bundeswehr’s power to defend itself against drones. The armed forces can then also use armed force in emergency incidents. To achieve this goal, police authorities must be better prepared to defend against drones.
In the summer and autumn, incidents involving drones brought flight operations at Munich Airport to a halt several times, and Berlin-Brandenburg, Bremen and Hanover airports were also affected. Sightings are also increasingly being reported at industrial facilities, ports and energy infrastructure.
The federal government suspects Russia is behind most of the incidents. Therefore, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt changed the police law and announced the creation of a drone competence center.
