ANKARA 

India and the European Union have held their first joint counterterrorism training aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and soft targets from emerging threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and drones, according to an official statement.

The training took place from Oct. 13 to 15 in Haryana, northern India, and brought together senior officers and experts from India’s National Security Guard (NSG) and the EU’s High Risk Security Network (HRSN).

The network, a specialized European platform of 28 units from 21 EU member states, and “focused on the use of advanced UAS and counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities,” the statement added.

“The peer-to-peer activity blended tactical and technological training, culminating in a joint exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and set the foundation for future collaboration,” it said.

“Participants also deliberated on the future trajectory of drone threats, including swarm and autonomous systems and the need for advanced detection and neutralization technologies such as artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, directed energy, and kinetic countermeasures.”

The EU statement said the "rapid proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and their misuse by state and non-state actors pose serious security challenges.”

“Commercial drones have advanced rapidly in both technology and accessibility, making them inexpensive and adaptable tools. Violent extremists have exploited these devices for purposes ranging from surveillance to carrying out attacks,” it said.

According to the statement, special forces training on UAS counter-terrorism tactics in "urban environments, combined with a joint tactical simulation exercise, allowed NSG and HRSN units to test and strengthen real-world response capabilities."

"The activity will result in the drafting of standard operating procedures for integrated drone and counter-drone operations in various settings and an engagement decision matrix tailored to protect mass gatherings and critical infrastructure," it said.