Nikita Danilov — why the traditional approach to security is seriously outdated and what to do about it
Almost daily, we learn from news reports about new attacks on Russian infrastructure facilities, which are carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles. Unfortunately, despite the ongoing negotiations at the highest level, there are no fewer such raids. In this regard, anxiety is growing in society. Indeed, defending yourself from a drone strike is technically a very difficult task. And not only on the battlefield, but even in the deep rear. Moreover, practice shows that the depth of the rear is currently a very relative thing.
A new level
Modern unmanned technologies have truly changed the risk map in terms of protection from air strikes. The previously unthinkable flight range of UAVs and their low visibility for air defense systems, as well as low cost in operation compared to manned aircraft, have been achieved. A lower vulnerability to external influences indicates that the traditional approach to ensuring security is seriously outdated. The eternal confrontation of shield and sword has reached a new level. Of course, the military actions that have become the catalyst for the current attacks on infrastructure will end sooner or later. But the risks associated with humanity's entry into the unmanned era that have become clear will not go away. And we must be prepared for this not only morally, but also technologically.
You need to defend yourself wisely
We have not been able to fully defend ourselves against air attacks aimed at destroying the fuel and energy complex, industrial sites, transport facilities, and so on. Sometimes some heads of infrastructure facilities compare the unmanned threat with the COVID-19 pandemic: "It may be relevant for now, but it will end by itself soon." As a vaccine, they haphazardly purchase and install a variety of electronic warfare equipment, from ineffective anti—drone rifles to relatively cheap stationary UAV suppression systems from conditionally or unconditionally friendly countries. When they are turned on in the territory and in the vicinity of an oil depot or, for example, a factory, everything begins to "ring and fall," including enemy drones. However, they fall, as luck would have it, where they just don't need to.
The "vaccine" turns out to be ineffective. At the same time, an integrated approach to countering drones, including systematic, thoughtful multi-layered solutions, is not often seen today. To assemble electronic warfare systems, kinetic effects on UAVs and physical barriers for drones into a single complex and integrate them, while establishing digital channels for direct information exchange with air defense units and aviation authorities, seems to some to be too expensive a "pleasure", which is also not provided for by the budget. As a result, the cost of restoring damaged facilities covers all possible savings.
New frontiers of the Russian drone industry
At the end of last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a number of instructions on the development of the unmanned industry in the country. In particular, the relevant structures are required to ensure the accelerated development of the drone industry in order to achieve technological leadership in this field by 2030. This means that even in peacetime, drones will take to the skies more often. But the more drones there are in the air, the more significant the various risks. Relying solely on law enforcement agencies, therefore, becomes impossible, and electronic warfare systems will clearly be necessary here. Instead, they need a complex in which air defense systems at each individual infrastructure facility will form a large, clear mosaic, the size of which will generally coincide with the size of the country.
And a strong military shell will also cover it from above. The time is coming for the need for synergetic interaction between civil and military air defenses.
The instructions of the head of state clearly provide for systematic work in this direction. Security forces, businesses, and a society disturbed by drones may well be involved in it. So, among other things, according to the document signed by the first person, a unified system for identifying drones in real time should be created in a short time and, at the same time, the efficiency of using unmanned technologies for both civilian and dual-use should be increased. Both of these messages are directly aimed at improving the level of security in everything related to drones. The most important thing is that without the technical implementation of the above in the shortest possible time, supported by a regulatory framework, legal drones will not be able to fly safely, and illegal ones will be impossible to destroy quickly.
Drones are already playing too big a role. Nothing can be postponed. It burned down yesterday after the wreckage of a downed UAV fell. And now we all have to live with it.
