The number of drones in the sky is growing rapidly – and with it the challenges of safety, regulation and coordination. Experts estimate that in the next five to ten years, around 10,000 drones will be flying over Germany every day and up to 100,000 across Europe. What sounds like science fiction to many is, for Dr Gerald Wissel, Chairman of UAV DACH (European Association for Unmanned Aviation), a realistic expectation – and a reason to act now.
‘We need a national task force led by the Federal Ministry of the Interior to coordinate the necessary measures in the field of drone detection and defence,’ says Wissel. This task force should bring all relevant stakeholders to the table – from the Federal Ministries of the Interior and Transport to the federal and state police forces and the Ministry of Defence. ‘Responsibilities are still highly fragmented today, while airspace is becoming increasingly congested.’
Wissel sees the industry at a turning point: "In the future, we will see a huge number of legal, commercial drones being used for inspections, the monitoring of critical infrastructure, firefighting and police operations, and medical transport. In addition, there will be recreational drones. Even today, it is impossible to tell from a distance whether a drone is operating legally or illegally." His central concern is therefore the electronic visibility of all participants in lower airspace. Only if every drone is clearly identifiable can authorities distinguish in time between legitimate commercial operations and potential threats from illegally operated unmanned aircraft systems.
Greater visibility through ADS-L
According to Wissel, a key component of this is the ADS-L (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Light) system developed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It is based on ADS-B technology, which is familiar from manned aviation, but is lighter, more energy-efficient and significantly cheaper. ‘ADS-L costs around €400, uses a different frequency band and consumes little power – ideal for drones,’ explains Wissel. The goal is that in the future, no drone will be able to take off without being clearly registered and electronically visible. ‘You can think of it as an electronic ignition lock,’ he says. ‘The drone may only take off if it holds a digital certificate – similar to online banking with identity verification.’ In the long term, the system is to become mandatory for all drones – including hobby and micro drones. Wissel fully expects resistance, for example from manufacturers: "There will certainly be discussions, but everything that flies must be visible. That is my clear position."
European regulation possible within 2–3 years
The alternative would be far more expensive and risky. Without comprehensive electronic visibility and a ground-based detection system for lower airspace using various sensor technologies, it would be impossible to distinguish between legal and illegal drones. In addition, police drones would need to be deployed nationwide, capable of taking off in real time to identify suspicious flying objects and neutralise them in emergencies. Wissel is optimistic: ‘If all goes well, we could have binding European regulations within two to three years.’ Without uniform rules and technologies, he sees the risk that future air traffic could fragment into separate national solutions with unpredictable safety risks – and that commercial applications would face increasing restrictions.
‘We need an integrated airspace. Ultimately, electronic visibility is a basic prerequisite for safety – just like a licence plate on a car,’ emphasises Wissel.
For Wissel, XPONENTIAL Europe is the perfect venue for both manufacturers and users of ADS-L systems. From 24 to 26 March 2026, solutions for ground and radar stations, AI-based airspace monitoring, police drones and much more will be presented in Düsseldorf – giving all interested parties the opportunity to gain a clear picture of the current situation and future possibilities.
Author: Sonja Buske
