The commercial and recreational use of drones has grown exponentially, posing new challenges for airspace security. To address this, NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) has been testing and developing counter-drone (C-UAS) technologies. These efforts aim to protect Alliance airspace from unauthorized drones using machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect intrusions.
After months of delays, NATO has adopted its first counter-drone doctrine, recently tested in an exercise along the Black Sea. This doctrine advises member states on layered defense approaches and common training standards for operators. The exercise, TIE22, involved over 30 companies and organizations deploying systems to ensure interoperability between NATO nations’ C-UAS technologies. The focus was on Class 1 unmanned aerial system threats, which include small, mini, and micro drones.
NCI Agency tested two drone detection prototypes: a modified version of ARTEMIS and the Drone Identification System (DroIDs). DroIDs uses machine learning to detect and identify drones without manual feature extraction, representing a significant technological advancement. Dr. Cristian Coman, the lead for counter-drone activities at NCI Agency, highlighted the importance of integrating C-UAS technologies with existing air defense systems to ensure NATO’s airspace remains secure.
The exercise featured participation from Romania, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, France, Turkey, and Poland, with support from British and Finnish fighter jets. U.S.-based Echodyne, French CS Group, and German electronics specialist Rohde & Schwarz were among the companies showcasing their counter-drone equipment.
Cristian Coman, chief scientist at NATO’s Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance center, emphasized the growing threat of Class 1 UAS in military conflicts. He noted that maintaining air superiority is increasingly challenging, necessitating advanced counter-drone measures. Participants in the exercise engaged in practical drills, using electronic warfare equipment, radars, and command-and-control systems to detect and counteract drone threats.
Italian Navy Lt. Cmdr. Federico Fugazzotto, acting as part of the “red team,” flew drones to simulate enemy threats, including American-made Parrot Disco and Chinese-made DJI models. The exercise’s scenarios varied in complexity, testing participants’ ability to detect and neutralize drones under different conditions.
The new counter-drone doctrine will provide a comprehensive guide for NATO member states, focusing on the operationalization of C-UAS, the importance of multidomain and layered solutions, and standardized training for operators. The doctrine is expected to be ratified by a NATO committee before the end of the year.
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