The European Commission has opened a call for expressions of interest from member states and private partners on testing and deploying drone detection based on mobile networks, for both civilian and military use.
The call covers three areas: AI that spots connected drones through telecommunications networks, cellular sensing to find drones that are not connected, and linking detection and tracking with command and control systems and counter-drone weapons. Member states can apply together with telecoms suppliers, network operators or operators of critical infrastructure, and Ukraine may take part in a consortium.
Depending on the response, the Commission will consider publishing a funding call for pilots of cellular detection and counter-drone response across the EU.
