News
Drone technologies for police operations: Interview with the Chief Constable
Michèle Knodt (Director of HDKZ), Manuel Kunzmann (Kassel Regional Council), Lars Ernst (Managing Director of Kassel Airport), Mark Weinmeister (President of the Kassel Administrative District), Susanne Stewen (Acting Deputy Commissioner of the State Police), Felix Paschek (Commissioner of the Hesse State Police) and Rolf Richter (Deputy President of the Kassel Regional Council) gathered at Kassel Airport. | © HDCC
How can drone technologies be used for police operations – and how can detection and defence be tested and practised under realistic conditions? The Hessian Drone Competence Centre (HDCC) discussed these issues on 20 August at Kassel Airport with Felix Paschek, Chief of the State Police, and Mark Weinmeister, District President of the Kassel administrative district.
Together with Kassel Airport, the HDCC presented the opportunities the site offers for research, testing and qualification. The focus was particularly on two areas: the use of drones for police operations and Kassel Airport as a drone/counter-UAS test site. The real-world airport infrastructure provides ideal conditions for testing scenarios relating to drone detection and defence in a realistic setting and for carrying out relevant exercises.
„We were particularly pleased by the Chief Constable’s keen interest in the HDCC and in future collaboration with the police. The open discussion highlighted many specific areas of potential collaboration, which we now intend to pursue together,“ said Michèle Knodt, Director of the HDCC.