In recent years, drones - also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, systems or devices (UAV, UAS or UAD for short) - have become increasingly important.

Whether as a toy or in a professional environment - e.g. for the maintenance of industrial plants, in agriculture or for traffic monitoring: certain types of drones are becoming increasingly present in our everyday lives due to their ease of use, low weight, and manageable acquisition costs.

In addition to the many advantages offered using drones, their potential for misuse is also coming under increasing scrutiny - especially when it comes to protecting critical infrastructure. In addition to energy and water supplies and medical care, this also includes the area of nuclear safety and security. The recent attack at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site in Ukraine, where a Russian combat drone damaged the protective shell around the old Sarcophagus, shows another dimension of the use of drones in a military context - even if this case it is not directly applicable to Germany.

This article is intended to provide an initial overview and illustrate the scope of the topic of drones in nuclear safety and security. The topic naturally touches on security-relevant aspects that are subject to confidentiality, which is why the depth of consideration in this article can by no means be exhaustive.

Not all drones are the same - a clarification of terms

The term “drone” usually refers to unmanned aerial vehicles that are operated without a pilot on board - i.e. remote-controlled or programed. There are also land drones (mobile robots) and water drones. This article deals exclusively with aerial systems.  

In terms of design, a distinction can be made between fixed-wing drones and rotary-wing drones. Fixed-wing drones are equipped with fixed wings, comparable to those of an airplane, while rotary-wing drones usually generate their lift with the help of several rotors, comparable to a helicopter. The resulting flight characteristics are associated with different advantages and possible uses for drones: While fixed-wing drones can reach higher speeds and cover longer distances, rotary-wing drones can hover vertically, take off or land, and are flexible when it comes to changing flight direction.

In addition to their design, drones also differ in terms of their size. Micro drones, for example, are widely used for video recording due to their compactness and low weight. Drones that are primarily designed for commercial use, such as in agriculture or for transporting goods, can also carry larger payloads of up to several hundred kilogrammes. There are also drones that are used for military purposes. In this context, there is often talk of combat drones or reconnaissance drones.

It can be assumed that the capabilities of drones and their potential uses will continue to develop over the coming years - the regulatory framework for their use will be updated accordingly. Regulatory requirements at European level, which are transposed into national law in the form of ordinances, are decisive here. The German Federal Aviation Authority, as the competent higher federal authority, provides an overview of the regulations. These specify, for example, which distance regulations apply to hospitals, airports or power plants and which requirements must be met for flying different categories of drones.

Possible applications of drones in the nuclear sector 

Drones can also be used in various ways in nuclear safety and security. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, they can provide detailed images and data and can be used for monitoring and inspection purposes. Even in hard-to-reach places or in areas with increased radiation exposure, such as in the case of the damaged reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan or in the dismantling of nuclear power plants in general, their size and manoeuvrability make them an effective tool in many cases – especially when it comes to avoiding radiation exposure of personnel. In acute event situations, when a rapid assessment and analysis of the situation is required or when large areas need to be monitored for radiation, they are a helpful tool. For example, drones can be equipped with suitable instrumentation for measuring radioactivity and for aerial monitoring.

Risks to the safety and security of nuclear installations  

In addition to the many advantages offered by their applications as described above, the use of drones also entails certain risks. For example, suspected reconnaissance drones are increasingly being observed flying over critical infrastructure facilities. In the summer of 2024, for example, there were media reports of suspected flights over an industrial park in Brunsbüttel close to the decommissioned nuclear power plant.  

Looking beyond Germany, drones also play a role in military conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. In addition to the drone attack on the protective shell of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant mentioned at the beginning, both warring parties and observers have repeatedly reported flyovers of Ukrainian nuclear power plants by so-called combat drones and attacks using drones on critical infrastructure, such as transformer stations and facilities on the grounds of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.  

Drones and cybersecurity  

Cybersecurity and protection against cyber-attacks are another important aspect of using drones in the field of nuclear safety and security. The radio signal between the drone and the (remote) control is considered a particularly vulnerable component. Cybercriminals who hack the signal can not only impair the function of a drone but also take control of it and thus manipulate its actual purpose/location. Drone operators in particular have a duty to ensure adequate protection against such attacks. This also includes training personnel and regularly maintaining the drones.  

Assessment of the situation in Germany and tasks of GRS

On behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry, GRS monitors and evaluates the status of technical developments in the field of drones and supports the Federal Environment Ministry in relevant Länder and departmental working groups, such as the working group on drone detection and defence against uncooperative drones.

Central issues here are how drones can be used to secure nuclear facilities and how any malicious use can be made more difficult, detected and, if necessary, intercepted.  

Experts at GRS are looking into various types of drones and possible uses, along with the question of what threats may arise from them. The precautions for securing nuclear facilities in Germany, which are ultimately the responsibility of the respective license holders, and the scenarios subject to state protection measures (§§ 44 ff. AtG) are determined by the competent authorities at federal and Land level and are subject to confidentiality.