Austria Plans Drone Defense Powers for Critical Infrastructure

Austria plans to allow operators of critical infrastructure to counter drones that pose a threat to their facilities. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced the proposal in Vienna on September 24 as the government presented an interim report on its national drone defense strategy. The change would require an amendment to the Telecommunications Act; the operators have not yet received the proposed authority.

Karner presented the report alongside Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried. According to the Austrian Interior Ministry, large energy companies are among the operators that could gain the ability to respond to drones they detect when a threat is present.

Operators’ authority still needs a legal basis

The government has not detailed which operators would qualify, what countermeasures they could use or what conditions would permit an intervention. Those questions matter because detecting a drone, interfering with its control signal and physically bringing it down are distinct actions with different operational consequences.

Austria’s proposal would give selected infrastructure operators a more direct role in responding to drone threats. For now, it remains a policy proposal rather than a new power that companies can exercise. The September 24 announcement did not identify a counter-drone supplier, procurement program or budget for operators.

The Interior Ministry said the government has established a joint drone situation center and plans a larger drone defense exercise before the end of 2026. The infrastructure and economy ministries are also involved in the cross-government work. Officials expect a final report from the working group by the end of the year.

Austria builds on existing counter-drone measures

The proposal follows earlier measures at sensitive sites. In an October 2025 statement, the Interior Ministry said Vienna International Airport had installed a drone detection system, its special operations directorate had established a counter-drone center, and the Austrian Armed Forces had military countermeasures available.

Austria’s parliament received a further update in April 2026. According to the parliamentary account, the interministerial working group was examining technical questions, protection of critical infrastructure and the legal framework for drone defense.

Separately, Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported on September 24 that around 300 soldiers were participating in a counter-drone exercise in eastern Austria. That activity is separate from the larger exercise the Interior Ministry says is planned for later in 2026.

The next steps are the proposed legal text and the working group’s final report. They should establish how Austria intends to divide responsibility between public authorities and infrastructure operators when a drone threatens a protected site.

Questions and answers

Can Austrian energy companies already bring down threatening drones?
The government announced a plan to give critical infrastructure operators that ability, but said it requires a change to the Telecommunications Act. It has not published the conditions under which operators could intervene.

Has Austria awarded a new counter-drone contract?
The September 24 announcement did not identify a supplier, contract or procurement value.

When will Austria publish its final drone defense report?
The Interior Ministry expects the working group’s final report by the end of 2026.