Multiple airports in Denmark have been disrupted by drones this week in what its authorities says is a “hybrid attack” by unknown skilled actors, because the nation considers whether or not to invoke NATO’s Article 4 for the primary time in its historical past.
Speculation is rife that Moscow might be behind the incursions, as Danish authorities say they are linked with current alleged violations of NATO airspace in Poland and Romania by Russian drones.
Danish nationwide intelligence chief Finn Borch stated that the danger of Russian sabotage in Denmark is excessive, although he didn’t straight accuse a selected nation. “We have seen this in other parts of Europe, and we must also expect to see it in Denmark,” Borch stated at a information convention Thursday evening, in line with the Associated Press.
Russia’s embassy in Denmark has denied any involvement, saying Thursday that it rejects the “absurd speculation.”
Europe is already on excessive alert over the collection of airspace breaches by Kremlin drones and plane. Poland requested Article 4 consultations with NATO after Russian drones penetrated its airspace and that of Romania in separate incidents earlier this month. Estonia equally known as for a gathering after Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace with out permission on Friday. Article 4 requires NATO states to carry talks when “the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of a member is threatened.
What came about throughout this week’s drone sightings in Denmark – and what are the potential dangers?
On Monday, sightings of two or three giant drones close to Copenhagen airport halted all takeoffs and landings there for almost 4 hours.
Two days later, on Wednesday evening, drones pressured the closure of a second Danish airport, when Aalborg airport in the nation’s north was shut for 3 hours after “more than one drone” was seen flying close by. Drones have been additionally noticed in a single day into Thursday close to Danish airports in Esbjerg, Sonderborg, and Skrydstrup, in line with Danish information outlet TV2. Billund Airport was additionally briefly closed because of studies of drone exercise.
Separately on Thursday, drones have been noticed close to a number of navy installations, together with Skrydstrup Air Base and Jutland Dragoon regiment, in line with Danish Defence Command.
In neighboring Norway, the airspace over Oslo Airport was closed for round three hours Tuesday morning because of a separate drone sighting.
The incidents comply with a significant cyberattack at a supplier of check-in and boarding techniques over the weekend, which disrupted operations at a number of of Europe’s busiest airports, together with London’s Heathrow.
We don’t know but – and Danish authorities say it’s too quickly to inform. However, the nation’s high officials have prompt Russia might be responsible.
At Thursday’s information convention, Denmark’s Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged the incursions will need to have been carried out by a “professional actor.” He stated that it was a part of a “systematic operation,” however the drones had been launched domestically. Poulsen added that there’s presently no proof that Russia is behind the incidents.
Earlier, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described Monday’s incident at Copenhagen airport as essentially the most severe “attack” but on Denmark’s essential infrastructure, and linked it to the drone breaches by Russia in Poland and Romania.
If Russia is behind this, a key query stays over who precisely is launching the drones; Russian safety companies themselves, or felony components performing on behalf of the Russian state.
The idea of Russia recruiting felony actors on European soil is nothing new. In his annual speech on safety threats dealing with the UK in October 2024, Ken McCallum, director-general of British intelligence service MI5, warned that state actors – significantly Russia and Iran – are more and more recruiting felony components together with petty criminals to hold out hostile acts on British and European streets.
Little is thought but about what type of drones have been used in Denmark’s sightings. However, using high-tech drones is turning into extra widespread because the know-how develops, making it tough to attract conclusions as to these accountable.
“Drone technology has become very sophisticated,” stated Edward Arnold, a senior analysis fellow for European safety at UK protection and safety suppose tank RUSI. “A lot of people are trained and use drones almost for recreational purposes, so this isn’t now the preserve of elite, state-based actors,” Arnold stated.
Denmark says the principle intention with such incidents is to sow worry.
“The goal with this kind of hybrid attack is to create fear and divisions, and make us scared,” Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard informed Thursday’s convention.
Hybrid assaults, in line with NATO, are used to “blur the lines between war and peace.” Methods embrace propaganda, deception, sabotage and different non-military ways, the alliance says.
Arnold says Russia would have motive to single out Denmark particularly.
“Their (the Danish) rhetoric is very anti-Russian at the moment due to the war in Ukraine. They are a steadfast supporter of Ukraine and over the last couple of years they have done more than most European nations. If you look at it by GDP, for a small nation they are one of the leaders in Europe for supporting Ukraine,” he informed NCS.
Therefore, he believes there might be a Russian “signaling” ingredient to it, with Moscow making an attempt to warn Copenhagen off its assist for Ukraine.
If Russia is behind the assaults, the purpose might merely be to trigger disruption.
“The Russians do this all the time. They’re happy just disrupting and being a nuisance, as a baseline,” Arnold stated.
Another, extra severe, long-term concern is that, whereas the drone incursions this week have been comparatively minor and aimed toward disruption, they might be a apply run, or a “perfection of the technique,” for inflicting extra severe harm in future, probably with armed drones, Arnold stated.
Going ahead, it’s not implausible that related drone sightings and disruptions might be seen in different international locations.
“What do the Russians, and Iranians for that matter, do when they are successful at certain operations? They replicate them,” Arnold stated.
They are additionally extra prone to happen at instances which trigger most disruption, similar to round Christmas and summer season holidays, he believes. “Criminal elements, drone pilots being a nuisance, it is a very difficult area to protect against,”
As effectively as closing affected airports, there are different measures that can be taken to guard towards drone disruptions.
Shooting down drones is feasible. The Danish Armed Forces stated Thursday it could select to take down drones over navy installations after contemplating particular person risk and danger assessments, however beforehand dominated out taking pictures down drones close to airports, assessing that it could be too dangerous for civilian populations.
Shooting down drones runs the danger of lacking the goal, Arnold defined. “If that shot misses the drone, that bullet is going to go somewhere else, and it could pose a risk to the public.”
In comparability, if a drone was armed and had the power to trigger widespread harm, armed forces would be more likely to take motion to shoot the system down.
Another possibility is drone jamming – which makes use of digital indicators to disrupt the system’s contact with its operator and can render it uncontrollable or power it to land.
Other strategies embrace sending counter-drones with nets to seize the gadgets, and even coaching eagles and different birds of prey to take them down. In 2016, it emerged that Dutch police have been deploying eagles after coaching them to take down unauthorized drones.