The start-up Drone XTR has developed a drone detection system that enables the airspace above the Port of Le Havre to be monitored. Jean-François Adam, Director of Drone XTR, explains that these flying devices pose a real threat.

There are many reasons for this: crashes due to loss of control, collisions, espionage, terrorist acts and illegal filming.

A trial in 2021 helped industry players to fully appreciate the scale of the problem. Named Nocea (the Normandy Airspace Control project), two detection systems were installed at a vantage point within a 10-kilometre radius. This provided coverage for the 10,000 hectares of the Le Havre Economic Development Zone (ZIP).

The aim was to record the number of drone flights in this area. Over a six-month period, 3,600 drones were detected (22 flights per day). Nearly 8 flights a day in the most sensitive zone alone, where flying is strictly prohibited without a special exemption. 10 per cent of these flights were authorised. The scale of the threat has been brought to light. 

Since then, Drone XTR and Synerzip-LH have signed a service contract. The sites are being equipped in turn. Drones that venture into the airspace are detected by the Le Havre-based company, and all the information (position, direction, speed, altitude, model and coordinates)

is transmitted in real time to its clients. An alert is triggered in the event of an unauthorised flight.

In 2022, out of 3,580 recorded flights, 280 were authorised. In 2023, 1,379 flights were recorded, of which 377 were authorised. Thirty-five of these were handled by the Integrated Security System for Ports (ISPS).

Source: Le Marin, 22 February 2024.