Long awaited CUAS report presented by Interpol- We want to increase awareness on the threat from drones

Since September 2021, the part of the drone world that works with antidrone capacities has been waiting for the report after the large exercise at Oslo Airport Gardermoen.

Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen on a quiet evening. The airport was open during the C-UAS exercise taking place in September 2021. Foto: Anders Martinsen

The demanding exercise was arranged by Interpol together with UAS Norway, the Norwegian police and Avinor. Systems then tested could detect drones and  some also  had capacity to stop drones..

Today, the report was finally presented at Ides 2022 in Oslo by Madan Oberoi at Interpol and his colleagues.

The results are they careful not give too many details about, says Oberoi, who leads Interpol’s investment in drones.

He presented the report in a closed session at the conference, with more than 250 participants present. There were photo and film bans, except for accredited press.

A very proud director at Interpol who leads Interpol’s commitment to drones presented the report at IDES2022. The report is a collaboration between, Avinor, The Norwegian police, UAS Norway and Interpol

The exercise in September was carefully planned. More than 2,000 movements were carried out. For the first time in the world, it was done at a civilian airport that was in full operation during such an exercise.

– This report would not have been possible without the support of the Norwegian police. We greatly appreciate that they participate in a common front to counteract illegal drone use, said Madan Oberoi, who leads Interpol’s commitment to drones, from the stage in Oslo.

Oberoi met Dronemagasinet after the presentation.

– Why has it been important for Interpol to create this report?

– Firstly because it will help member states to understand how such tests can be carried out and how they can be able to evaluate these anti UAS systems.

Tool, threat and evidence is essential for Interpols roadmap for adding focus current and future use of drones.

Interpol continues to work to standardize and get more focus on drones both as a tool and a threat, but also with a focus on what kind of data can be retrieved from drones. The focus is also on data processing.

Jan Otto Johansen leads the Norwegian police’s work with anti-drone measures.

– The most important lesson with this report is probably that we have to carry out real tests. You can not discuss and evaluate anti-drone measures only in theory, says Johansen to Dronemagasinet.

Screenshot from one of the controllers during the exercise in september last year.

He emphasizes that there is a big difference between different operational environments.

– If you need a system in a stadium, you must test it in that stadium. If you need a system for an urban environment, test the system in the same area.
– Was this surprising to you?
– No, I do not want to say that. We have been working with this in Norway for the last couple of years, and these are some of the findings so far. The systems do not always do what is printed on the package.
– This applies to both the detection of drones and possible anti-measures?
– Yes.

Jan Otto Johansen and his team has together with Interpol and industry experts spent months working on the data from the exercise that took place in September at Gardermoen airport.

The report from the exercise at Gardermoen has received a lot of attention around the world.

– How will Interpol use this report, which now is gaining global attention?
– I believe that one of the most important goals will be to increase awareness of the threat from drones. The next step is to understand the threat and take it further with anti-drone measures, says Oberoi.

– Do we have enough focus on anti-drone measures here in Norway?
– I think we are raising awareness about this. Having said that, the threat situation in Norway is not such that there is a threat when it comes to someone with hostile intentions. What we see, also from the surveys at Oslo Airport, is that there are a number of ruthless drone pilots out there, says Johansen.

He emphasizes that the police like the use of drones and encourages it.

– But it is so important to train the pilots, and to create the right framework for them to be able to fly safely.- Will this report help to increase flight safety?
– Absolutely, says Interpol leader Oberoi.
– How has the collaboration with the companies involved been?
– I would say that cooperation is fundamental. Without the collaboration, we would not have seen this report. Collaboration with the private sector and research is in its infancy.