Drones
Home ministers want to make faster progress on drone defense
How well are these countries positioned in terms of drone defense? Several concepts are being discussed before the Home Ministers’ Conference. Since everyone sees the need for action here, the chances of reaching agreement are great.
At next week’s fall conference, federal and state interior ministers will intensively address the question of who has the technology and capabilities needed to defend against illegal drones and where. This can be seen from the IMK’s temporary agenda which started on December 3 in Bremen. There are currently skills or capacities of varying quality in state police authorities as well as in the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Federal Police and the Bundeswehr.
Rapid developments force action
Baden-Württemberg’s Interior Minister, Thomas Strobl, warned that the federal and state governments must combine their strengths and competences and expand their capabilities. The police and the Bundeswehr must immediately build a close network here. “Anyone who lingers here will lose touch with the rapid developments in the drone sector,” the CDU politician warned.
Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister, Daniela Behrens (SPD), said that Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) should present a concept to the IMK that defines clear intervention responsibilities and powers for the federal and state governments. Lower Saxony will invest around seven million euros to build up its own defense capabilities next year. “However, regional solutions and police defense options are not enough to counter military drones and complex hybrid attacks.” A whole-of-government approach is needed so that the police and armed forces can act in a legally safe manner.
To prevent espionage, sabotage and possible attacks on humans, the future Bundeswehr must provide support in domestic drone defense – if necessary with armed forces. The Federal Cabinet decided to make changes regarding the Aviation Security Act last week.
Strobl sees police in the southwest as being in a good position
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According to Strobl, Baden-Württemberg police are in a good position. “We do a lot of things here,” he explained, referring for example to the police helicopter squadron’s drone training and competency center. The Baden-Württemberg police are responsible for detecting and defending against drones. According to the ministry, it also supports the national airspace protection service center, which is also located at the Baden-Württemberg police helicopter squadron.
After several air traffic disruptions caused by drones, among other things, a wider debate has emerged regarding their defense.
Strobl said: “In no way am I spreading alarm or panicking people,” he explained. “The situation is like this: We are not at war, and certainly not really at peace.”
Lower Saxony considers it necessary for the federal government to make an up-to-date national situation report on drone activity, available to all security authorities. At the same time, the responsibility and authority to intervene in drone defense must be clearly stated, “especially in the border areas between civil and military responsibilities”.
It was not only Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg that were involved in preliminary discussions at the Conference of Interior Ministers with proposals for drone detection and defense. Hesse, Rhineland-Pfalz and North Rhine-Westphalia also each brought their own ideas.
dpa
