Unmanned Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Closing Event of the USKIT Research Project
Oct 21, 2025 / Vienna / European Security and Defence / Austrian Foreign, Security, Defence Policy
On 21 October 2025, the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES), together with the Federal Ministry of Defence (BMLV), the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), and the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), hosted the final event of the research project “USKIT” (Unmanned Protection of Critical Infrastructure). The project focuses on developing and evaluating new unmanned systems for monitoring and securing critical infrastructure.
Senior experts from politics, research and security institutions discussed the technological, legal, security-policy and ethical implications of deploying unmanned platforms. It became clear that autonomous and remotely operated systems will play an increasingly central role in enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure, provided that their use is embedded in clear legal and operational frameworks.
The introductory presentations by Christoph Sulzbachner and Rudolf Zauner highlighted how profoundly drones are transforming warfare and the protection of critical infrastructure. They pointed to the sharp rise in unmanned attacks in Ukraine and the strong overlap between civilian and military technologies. Austrian research initiatives under KIRAS, FORTE and EU programmes were presented, with a focus on hybrid sensor systems, swarm concepts and cooperative intervention methods using both soft- and hard-kill options. A “dual use by design” approach was emphasised, underpinning the systematic integration of civilian and military applications. The presentations underscored that multidomain capabilities, rapid innovation cycles and European technological sovereignty require adapted doctrines, digital command structures and closer civil–military cooperation.
From the Interior Ministry’s perspective, drones and counter-drone capabilities have become an integral part of domestic security. The Air Police Directorate (represented by Ulrike Hutsteiner) and the Cobra Task Force (represented by Thomas Vahrner) operate several hundred drones and have trained a large number of certified pilots. At the same time, the complexity of airspace management is increasing as unmanned systems must be coordinated with manned aviation. The police therefore continuously test new detection, jamming and hard-kill systems and cooperate closely with the Armed Forces and Austro Control. As modern drones become more resistant to interference, the development of operational capabilities and close civil–military coordination are gaining further importance.
Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan’s presentation on ethical considerations stressed that drone defence and swarm technology revolve less around technological extremes and more around human-machine interaction, accountability and contextual decision-making. Key challenges concern attribution, proportionality and the design of reliable control mechanisms. The decisive factor is not technology alone but the combination of clear procedures, transparent responsibility structures and user-centred interfaces that prevent operator overload and uphold ethical standards.
The legal analysis, presented by Ralph Janik, showed that the core issues do not stem from missing regulations but from the interaction of different legal regimes and responsibilities. The grey areas between sovereignty violations, domestic security measures and the right to self-defence in international law require precise assessment and clearly defined mandates. A consistent application of the principle of proportionality and a governance framework that keeps pace with technological developments remain essential.
The concluding discussion underlined that the main challenges are not primarily legal but operational. The lower airspace lacks continuous detection and defence capabilities, responsibilities are often unclear, and coordination gaps persist. While drones are reshaping tactics and security logics, strategic advantage can only emerge through shared situational awareness, defined handover procedures and rapid political decision-making.
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