By Victoria Friedman

The European Commission (EC) announced an action plan to counter malicious drone activity on Feb. 12, proposing measures to support detection, coordinate responses, and strengthen the European Union’s defense readiness.

The plan focuses on supporting and encouraging the EU’s 27 member states to work together, with the EC stating it will “step up its support to build a stronger drone ecosystem, fostering closer ties between governments and industry.”

“By accelerating the development of affordable defence technology and fast-tracking mass production, this work will form the basis of the European Drone Defence Initiative and Eastern Flank Watch initiative, a flagship project proposed in Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030,” the statement said, referencing two initiatives unveiled last year as part of the bloc’s plans to boost defense readiness by the end of the decade.

To improve detection, the EC is also asking member states to test using 5G networks to detect drones, saying that these networks “offer precise, real-time tracking of flying objects, which is essential for keeping our skies safe, and protecting internal security.”

The plans follow drone sightings late last year that caused disruptions, including at airports in Belgium, Denmark, and Germany. Those incidents followed an incursion of suspected Russian drones entering Polish airspace in September.

“Drones have been used in violation of Member States’ airspace. They have disrupted airport operations and caused near-misses with civilian aircraft,” EC executive vice-president for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy Henna Virkkunen said during the launch of the action plan.

“In fact, these malicious or irresponsible use of drones affect the protection of critical infrastructure, external borders, ports, transport hubs and public spaces, including densely populated areas, as well as maritime safety and energy security.”

Defense Readiness to 2030

On Oct. 16, the EC unveiled a readiness roadmap for 2030, comprising of four defense strategies: the European Drone Defense Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield.

At the time, the EC stressed that the Eastern Flank Watch and the European Drone Defense Initiative are the most urgent projects.

The European Drone Defense Initiative—which has been referred to by EC President Ursula von der Leyen and others in the past as a “drone wall”—is envisaged as having a 360-degree approach, “as a multilayered, technologically advanced system with interoperable counter-drone capabilities” for detection, tracking, and neutralization, according to the roadmap.

The Eastern Flank Watch will “integrate the air defence and counter-drone systems with a set of ground defence systems with maritime security in the Baltic and Black Seas and systems for increased situational awareness, as well as internal security and border management,” the roadmap states.

The EU has since reframed its drone defense strategy to remove the term “wall,” which is not included in the full wording of the action plan.

In answering a reporter’s question on Feb. 11 about the lack of mention of a drone wall, Virkkunen said, “We have also changed the word ‘drone wall’ more towards a drone initiative, because maybe the drone wall gave a wrong impression that it is like some kind of physical wall. And that’s why we are speaking about drone initiative.”

The EC said that the plan “sets a holistic approach by addressing the question of the protection of critical infrastructure, external borders, as well as proposing to adapt the necessary legislation to enhance the security from drones and deploy the latest technological evolution to increase detection and improve response.”

The EC said that following the adoption of the plans, it will launch discussions with the European Parliament, industry partners, and member states to establish which actions to prioritize.