Frontex continues to accelerate the technological upgrading of EU border management, exemplified by its recent competition on countering the criminal use of drones. In cooperation with the Portuguese Air Force, the agency tested systems capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising drones used for smuggling or illicit surveillance, with companies from several member states demonstrating their solutions. As the second competition of its kind since 2023, the initiative forms part of a broader shift towards “smart” border technologies in which Frontex acts as an innovation broker. This trend positions the EU’s external borders as a testing ground for advanced security tools, while raising persistent questions about transparency, oversight, and fundamental rights.
Source: Frontex
