The Ministry of Defence has set out its current approach to developing policy for the active engagement of unmanned aerial systems, following a parliamentary question on counter-drone measures, the department stated.
The issue was raised by Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, who asked what progress had been made on establishing a policy framework for engaging unmanned aerial threats.
Responding on behalf of the department, Minister of State for Defence Luke Pollard said the MOD is working with partners across government on a range of counter-uncrewed aerial systems issues.
“The Ministry of Defence works closely with partners across Government on a range of Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems issues,” he said.
Pollard explained that responsibility for counter-drone policy differs depending on circumstances. During peacetime within the UK homeland, responsibility sits with the Home Office, while wartime policy falls under NATO-aligned Integrated Air and Missile Defence arrangements overseen by the MOD.
“The Home Office is responsible for C-UAS policy and strategy in the Homeland during peacetime,” he said. “During wartime, C-UAS policy falls under the Integrated Air and Missile Defence framework, which the MOD is responsible for.”
He added that existing arrangements for Military Aid to the Civil Authority provide an established mechanism for Defence capabilities to be deployed in support of other government departments when required. “The process of providing Military Aid to the Civil Authority is well established and ensures a robust framework under which Defence capabilities may be used to support Other Government Departments,” Pollard said.
The minister also confirmed that legislative work is ongoing to enable the use of authorised counter-drone equipment by Defence personnel. “Work is underway to develop a suitable legislative framework that will enable Defence personnel to operate authorised equipment to protect critical Defence property and activities from the threat of UAS,” he said.
So, after all those statements of the bleeding obvious regards policy, how much further forward is the UK in having meaningful CUAS capabilities beyond the minimum already fielded?
What are we actually physically buying?
You beat me to it Daniele. Approach to, planning for, thinking about, blah blah. Answer to your question…Nothing is being ordered.