In order to minimize the risk of consequences of potential foreign airspace incursions over Poland, including threats from drones or other flying objects, a joint military-civilian Airspace Monitoring System of Poland should be created. It would allow the tracking of flight paths of these objects but primarily it would identify if it’s a drone breaching Polish airspace, what kind of aircraft it is, and whether it’s a civilian or military flying object. In case of a violation or incursion into Polish airspace, such a system should be equipped with detectors that would allow for full identification and the possibility of immediate neutralization of such a flying object within fractions of a second. Currently, there are domestic technological solutions on the Polish market capable of recognizing drones flying at a height of 1.5m and weighing 250 grams, and performing automatic identification and in-flight neutralization. Such a system should be built by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) in cooperation with specialized companies.
War in Ukraine is characterized by a certain cyclicality. Approximately once a month or two, there is a significant intensification of military action, including primarily air strikes on targets throughout Ukraine. Targets located near the Polish-Ukrainian border are also attacked. Such mass attacks increase the significant risk of enemy drones or other unidentified flying objects possibly entering Poland. From the reports of the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, we learn that the object or objects that are or may be violating Polish airspace are tracked and observed by the military, but cannot be neutralized until it is confirmed to be a hostile and dangerous drone or other aircraft. This happens for a very simple reason, which few of us realize. Poland, as a country, is still at peace and air traffic regulations apply – both military and civilian – characteristic of a state at “P,” i.e., peace. We cannot arbitrarily close off sections of airspace, nor can we categorically ban flights.
The military must have information on all flying objects – both civilian and military. We need to know what types of flights are being carried out by these aircraft – their route, tasks to be performed, the identity of the pilots and drone operators, registration marks, as well as the type of drone and its equipment.
Therefore, a new military-civilian Polish Airspace Monitoring System is necessary. Such a system should comprise several modules and subsystems.
- The first basic element should be a module processing flight plans of all civilian drones, so the military side has information on every flight and the type of air operation being performed.
- The next element should be a module managing all geographic and air zones in Polish airspace, especially in a specially designated border zone. In this zone, special ADS-B receivers should be placed (as a network along the entire border) that allows tracking of the flight path of every civilian drone.
- In addition to the network of receivers along the border, a system of passive radars should be installed, capable of identifying, based on the noise of flight, even the smallest flying object performing flights at a minimum height of 1.5 meters. Such a radar system, with implemented AI algorithms, will allow for precise identification and recognition of the type of flying object – automatically enabling the military to decide to neutralize such an object.
- The last element of the threat identification system must be a system of devices for neutralizing the identified, threatening flying object. For drones, these are high-power jammers or conventional weapons carried by air defense aircrafts.
One might ask, why doesn’t Poland have such a system yet? Unfortunately, such technological solutions are not off-the-shelf products and are built to specific orders based on the geographical and defensive characteristics of a given country. For this reason, Polish authorities should make a decision as soon as possible to purchase and build this type of system, which would allow the identification, tracking, and neutralization of a potentially hostile unmanned aerial system. Building and installing such a system would take at least 1.5 years due to the need to adapt, deploy, and integrate all modules, ADS-B transmitters, and a network of radar systems.
Janusz Janiszewski – Aviation Market Expert
Source: https://managerplus.pl/rosyjski-dron-nad-polska-potrzebny-jest-nowy-wojskowo-cywilny-system-monitoringu-polskiego-nieba-19950
