The illegal and abusive use of drones poses risks to people and critical infrastructure and jeopardises public support for the responsible commercial use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). To counter this, the industry association UAV DACH – Association for Unmanned Aviation – has formulated six demands for effective and efficient drone detection and defense in Europe.
Unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, offer significant potential for the economy, society and national and alliance defense. At the same time, illegal drone operations pose a challenge for security authorities and risk reducing acceptance of this important future technology.
Against this backdrop, UAV DACH is making six key demands of national and European policymakers to create the conditions for the comprehensive commercial use of unmanned aerial systems:
- Creation of a uniform European air situation picture in lower airspace
- Mandatory Europe-wide introduction of ADS-L for all drones and aircraft in lower airspace
- A holistic and comprehensive definition of all potential threat scenarios
- Industry-oriented research and targeted national and European funding programmes
- Establishment of a European centre of excellence for drone detection and defense
Specification of rules for private drone operations The aim of these demands is to strengthen safety, legal clarity and acceptance in lower airspace as the basis for responsible and economically sustainable commercial drone operations in Europe.
The topics of detection, electronic visibility, standards and responsibilities in lower airspace are also among the focal points of XPONENTIAL Europe, Europe’s leading trade fair for autonomous technologies and robotics. The event will take place from 24 to 26 March 2026 at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre. As a central European platform, it brings together manufacturers, users, authorities, researchers and regulators and provides a forum for discussion on the issues that will shape the future of unmanned aviation.
Dr Gerald Wissel, CEO of UAV DACH, also emphasises the importance of such platforms for cross-industry dialogue: “Platforms such as XPONENTIAL Europe are crucial for bringing together all players in the field of autonomous systems.”
All information on the event’s focal points and programme highlights is available on the industry portal: www.xponential-europe.com
