Austria plans major expansion of drone defences and air forces

Austria will significantly expand its military drone defences and air forces in the coming years, ORF reported Friday. The need for investment has been highlighted not only by the war in Ukraine, officials said at the 20th anniversary of the air forces command at the Schwarzbergkaserne military barracks in Wals, in the Flachgau region.

Recent flights by small, commercially available drones over the barracks have attracted public attention. Gerfried Promberger, commander of Austria’s air forces, said the incidents were being investigated by military security authorities.

“We have had several incidents and military security is investigating them. We are currently in the investigation process and are taking these incidents very seriously,” Promberger said. He added that there had been many incidents, which could have resulted from carelessness, but said that “in a constitutional state, I cannot simply fly everywhere.”

A drone defence unit is already stationed at the barracks, but it currently has only about 15 personnel. Promberger said the unit would be expanded substantially in the coming years, alongside the broader air forces.

“There is much more to come, but at the moment the whole world is placing orders,” he said. The military must recruit personnel and purchase equipment, a process that would take months and years and had already begun some time ago.

The planned expansion covers more than drones. It also includes aircraft, anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft missiles, Promberger said.

The financing of the plan is currently the subject of negotiations at the federal political level. The expansion is expected to cost several billion euros.