Russian airports cannot purchase protection against drones – Kommersant

Russian airport operators cannot start purchasing special technical equipment to protect against illegal drone flights. The problem arose due to the lack of regulations and requirements, reported “Izvestia” air hub representatives.

The problem was discussed at the conference “Transport Security”, which was held in Moscow on May 24-25. Andrey Klyuev, CEO of Yumirs (manufacturer of Radescan-Antidron complexes), explained that airports need a circular from the Federal Air Transport Agency for purchase, confirming the compatibility of equipment with the systems of the State ATM Corporation (the national provider of air navigation in the Russian Federation).

As Mr. Klyuev explained, the authorities of the regions form headquarters, which include, among other things, the FSB and the National Guard. They, in turn, make lists of critical infrastructure to be equipped with means of combat from UAVs. “Operators of air hubs say that they do not have any prescription about the possibility of using this or that means,” he says.

Rosaviatsia receives many letters from air hubs with questions about what to do and what means to use, Alexander Sevryukov, head of the department for accreditation of transport security units of the department’s profile department, confirmed. He clarified that airports have transport security units, and some want to entrust the fight against drones to these units. “Our department has a position that we would not give authority to detect and combat UAVs to the transport security units of air hubs,” he added.

The problem with the purchase of means of combating UAVs was announced to Izvestia, in particular, by the director of the Penza airport, Yuri Oskolkov. The press service of Kaliningrad Khrabrovo also said that they were waiting for recommendations and certified equipment from the Federal Air Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport.

In November 2022 Rosaviatsia asked industry participants every day at six in the morning to report on the security situation. This requirement was related to the high alert regime announced in the Central and Southern federal districts. Airports and carriers conduct special drills to work out scenarios of terrorist attacks and fires, airlines report brawlers and false calls about mining, and also test first aid skills among employees.

Laura Keffer