Umfrage: Viele Betreiber kritischer Infrastruktur ohne Drohnenschutz

A recent survey reveals that many operators of critical infrastructure in Germany lack protective measures against unauthorized drone flights. The poll, conducted by Droniq and the Federal Association for the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (BSKI), found that over half of the 104 respondents had witnessed unauthorized or security-relevant drone flights in the past year.

However, nearly half of the affected organizations reported having no drone detection measures in place. The survey, conducted in August, indicates a "gap between risk perception and preparation," according to Droniq and BSKI. Jan-Eric Putze, Droniq's managing director, emphasized the importance of operators knowing what happens in their airspace and being able to judge which flying devices are permitted and which are not.

Sixty-two percent of respondents view drone flights as a current threat, while 36.5 percent believe they may become a threat in the future. Sabotage (46.5 percent) and operational disruption (39.5 percent) are the most significant risks cited by participants. Concerns about espionage (7 percent) and data privacy risks (5.8 percent) are less pressing.

The survey included companies and institutions from the fields of state/administration (31 respondents), transport/movement (31), energy (17), IT/telecommunications (15), water (5), health (2), space (2), and food (1). The recent discovery of a bomb drone at Leipzig Airport has recently put the issue on the political agenda. In August, Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger announced that interim technology from the German Federal Aviation Administration (DFS) will be deployed at major German airports to detect drones more quickly and earlier in the approach and departure areas.