Deep within a warehouse, far away from Ukraine, employees in northern Denmark carefully assemble anti-drone equipment. Some of these are de...
Deep within a warehouse, far away from Ukraine, employees in northern Denmark carefully assemble anti-drone equipment.
Some of these are destined for Kyiv with the aim of disrupting Russian technology on the front lines, while others will be transported throughout Europe to address a series of drone incursions into NATO's airspace that have caused significant concern across the continent.
Two Danish firms primarily focused on defense-related activities now report an increase in new customers interested in utilizing their technology to secure locations like airports, military bases, and essential infrastructure, which have all been affected by drone incursions in recent weeks.
Weibel Scientific's radar-based unmanned aerial vehicle detection system was utilized before a significant EU summit this year at Copenhagen Airport, where unexplained drone sightings led to the closure of the airspace for several hours in September.
A counter-drone company named MyDefence produces portable, wearable radio-frequency tools in its facility located in northern Denmark, which disrupt the link between a drone and its operator, thereby eliminating the danger.
"Jamming" is controlled and strictly managed within the European Union, yet it is common on the conflict zones in Ukraine. As a result, Russia and Ukraine have begun using drones connected via thin fiber-optic cables, which do not depend on radio frequency signals.
Russia is also deploying attack drones equipped with additional antennas to counter Ukraine's jamming attempts.
Spike in drone incursions
Unmanned aerial combat saw a significant rise after Russia launched a comprehensive attack on Ukraine in 2022.
Russia has launched drone and missile strikes on Ukraine, targeting railways, power infrastructure, and cities throughout the nation.
In reply, Ukraine has initiated its own attacks on military and energy facilities far within Russia, utilizing locally made drones.
But Europe is currently on high alert following drone sightings.into NATO airspace reached an extraordinary level in September, leading European leaders to commit to creating a"drone wall"along their frontiers to enhance the ability to identify, monitor, and neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles breaching European airspace.
In November, officials from NATO's military branch announced that a new American anti-drone system had been sent to the alliance's eastern border.
And after an incursion into Polish airspace, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte statedthe establishment of the Eastern Sentry program, intended to prevent additional Russian invasions.
Certain European officials characterized the events as Moscow assessing NATO's reaction, prompting inquiries into the alliance's readiness to face possible dangers from Russia.
The Russian government has rejected claims that Moscow is responsible for certain unexplained drone sightings across Europe, calling them "baseless."
Major difficulties involve identifying drones, which can often be confused with birds or aircraft on radar, and neutralizing them in an economical way.
Andreas Graae, an assistant professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, mentioned there is a "significant push" to quickly implement anti-drone technologies across Europe due to Russian actions.
All nations in Europe are facing difficulties in identifying the appropriate solutions to prepare for these emerging drone challenges," he stated. "We lack all the necessary elements to effectively detect drones and establish early warning systems.
'Machines before people'
Established in 2013, MyDefence develops equipment designed to safeguard airports, government facilities, and other essential infrastructure. However, chief executive Dan Hermansen referred to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a "watershed moment" for his company.
Over 2,000 units of its wearable "Wingman" detection device have been supplied to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began almost four years ago.
"For the last few years, we've heard in Ukraine that they aim to prioritize machines over people" to preserve lives, Hermansen stated.
MyDefence increased its profits to approximately $18.7 million (€16.1 million) last year, doubling the amount from 2023.
Subsequently, there were drone flyovers earlier this year. In addition to Copenhagen Airport, drones passed over four smaller Danish airports, including two that function as military bases.
Other comparable events occurred in Romania, Lithuania, and Norway.
Hermansen mentioned that these events served as an "eye-opener" for numerous European nations and led to a rise in fascination with their technological advancements.
MyDefence transitioned from primarily focusing on defence-related services to getting inquiries from officials representing police departments and essential infrastructure sectors.
"Realizing abruptly that drone warfare is not merely an issue occurring in Ukraine or along the eastern front, but essentially something we must address within a hybrid warfare threat situation," he added.
Technology for detecting drones using radar
On the eastern edge of NATO, Denmark, Poland, and Romania are introducing a new military system to protect against unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Merops system, developed in the United States, is compact enough to be transported in the rear of a pickup truck. It can detect drones and approach them by utilizing artificial intelligence for navigation, even when satellite and electronic communication systems are disrupted.
The goal is to ensure the border with Russia is heavily fortified, making it clear to Moscow's military that they would be discouraged from even considering crossing the line from Norway in the north to Turkey in the south, according to NATO military officials.
To the north of Copenhagen, Weibel Scientific has been producing Doppler radar technology since the 1970s.
Commonly utilized in tracking radar systems within the aerospace sector, it is now being employed for drone detection, such as at Copenhagen Airport.
The system can calculate the speed of an object, like a drone, by analyzing the shift in the wavelength of a returned signal.
It is possible to determine the direction in which the object is moving, stated Peter Røpke, CEO of Weibel Scientific.
"The conflict in Ukraine, and particularly its development over the past few years with the use of drone technology, has led to a significant increase in demand for this kind of product," Røpke stated.
This year, Weibel obtained a €65 million contract, which the company referred to as its "biggest deal to date."
The increased drone flyovers further intensified the demand as conversations about the planned "drone wall" persisted. Røpke mentioned that his technology could serve as a "critical element" in any upcoming drone defense system.
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