No country is 'well-equipped' to deal with drone intrusion, says former Irish Defense SecretaryPublished on December 5th 15:32 GMT
matt murphy
BBC Verified Senior Journalist
Ireland's former defense secretary has warned that “no country” can currently adequately counter drone incursions, following reports that four unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) were spotted roaming in Dublin's airspace ahead of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit on Monday.
According to domestic media reports, the drone was spotted by the crew of the Irish Navy ship Les William Butler Yeats near the expected flight path of the Ukrainian leader's jet, where a no-fly zone had been established.
Journal that reported the article, externalsaid the ship was not equipped to neutralize the drone and commanders decided not to shoot it down with conventional weapons.
The drone did not appear on the flight tracker, but Yates was seen on Monday at Marine Traffic, a ship tracking site in Dublin Bay. Flightradar 24 also showed Irish patrol aircraft in the area.
Lieutenant-General Mark Merrett, who led the Irish Army from 2015 to 2021, said “no one and no country is adequately equipped” to deal with such an invasion. Similar intrusions have been reported from EU member states in recent months.
He said the decision not to shoot down the drone was “wise” in a situation where it did not pose a “clear and imminent danger”.
“In such situations, proportionality and avoiding unintended escalation are just as important as demonstrating that you are aware of and actively monitoring this type of activity.”
The origins of many of these drones are unclear, but European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described them as a “hybrid war” waged by Russia.
