German Military Forms Quick Response Team Against Mysterious Drone Terror

UNSPLASH/Julyen Dumas ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The German military is forming a rapid response team to counter the threat of drones. Later the drone terror appeared at the Belgian airport, causing a temporary operational closure.

These anti-aircraft units are currently being formed, Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, who is leading Germany's joint operations command and oversees the country's defense planning, told Reuters on Friday, November 7.

Germany's Ministry of Defense said it would send anti-drone experts to Belgium after receiving requests from the country, which has struggled to deal with increased drone sightings near military installations and civilian airports.

"A group of air force personnel have arrived in Belgium to investigate the situation and coordinate a temporary mission involving drone detection and anti-drone capabilities with Belgian troops," the ministry said.

"The main group will soon follow," he continued.

Sightings of drones above airports and military bases have been a persistent problem in Belgium in recent days and have caused major disruption across Europe in recent months.

They forced temporary closures of airports in several countries, including Sweden, on Thursday.

Some officials blamed the incident on Russia's "hybrid war". Moscow denies any connection with the incident.

Sollfrank declined to explain in detail when discussing the new anti-drone unit, citing operational security, but said the team sent to Copenhagen last month during the EU summit had been equipped with a combination of sensors and effectiveness.

"They have various systems to detect and fight drones. We have the option, for example, to take control of drones and land them at certain locations," the general said.

Anti-drone experts also have drones that can remove nets to catch drones and thus knock them down, as well as interceptors who can hit enemy drones.