La National Police School of Ávila hosts, from Thursday to Sunday, the Interpol Drone Expert Summit (IDES)The leading international forum dedicated to the use of unmanned aircraft systems and countermeasures technologies. This event, organized by Interpol, UAS Norway, and the Spanish National Police, brings together representatives from law enforcement agencies, international organizations, universities, and technology companies to address common air and police security challenges with a highly practical and cooperative approach.
Under the motto "Leveraging Cutting-Edge Technology for Law Enforcement in the Drone Era", the program examines drones from three angles: emerging threat, an operational tool and source of evidence for criminal investigations and airspace protection. The choice of Spain and the National Police Academy as the venue recognizes the role of the National Police as benchmark in innovation and aviation safety and places the country at the center of the debate on responsible use and response to illicit uses.
Participation and work agenda
The forum brings together more than 120 international participants Participants come from police forces, security agencies, civil defense, industry, and academia. Over four days, plenary sessions, technical workshops, and operational demonstrations are held, with the participation of C-UAS specialists (detection, neutralization, and drone forensics) and those responsible for the European Commission together with companies in the sector.
The agenda is designed to promote knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and public-private coordination. The activities address real-world scenarios of incidents involving UAS. protection of critical infrastructure, sensor interoperability and protocols for obtaining and storing digital evidence.
International trajectory of IDES
Since its first edition in Lyon (2018)The IDES has established itself as a global meeting point for aviation security. Subsequent editions have been held in Singapore (2019), Oslo (2021 and 2022), San Diego (2023), and Austin (2024), with the participation of more than 30 countries and agencies such as Europol, Frontex, EASA, and NATO. The Ávila event represents the seventh edition and it continues a network of cooperation that unites police forces, regulators and industry.
This journey has fostered the creation of common practices for the management of UAS and C-UAS, as well as the harmonization of procedures in cross-border operations, a key aspect for the European environment and its shared airspace.
Aerospace Security Strategy and European Framework
The meeting is part of the National Aerospace Security Strategy 2025This roadmap prioritizes strengthening capabilities against aerial threats, inter-institutional cooperation, and technological development in drone detection and neutralization. It aligns with European Union initiatives and EASA standards for integrating secure U-Space operations.
Coordination between ministries, security forces, and public and private operators aims to accelerate the implementation of C-UAS technologies in airports, high-concentration events and critical environments, without losing sight of legal proportionality and respect for fundamental rights in obtaining and processing evidence.
Capabilities of the National Police and operational uses
The National Police, through its Air Unit and the Air Security and Protection Area (ASPA), plays an essential role in the implementation of the strategy and in the coordination against UAS threatsThe force was a pioneer in Europe in incorporating drones into its operations and maintains a deployment that combines specialized human resources and advanced technical resources.
On a daily basis, UAS support preventative surveillance, emergency management, and complex operations. They also allow 3D surveys, planimetry And obtaining a bird's-eye view to document scenes is useful in homicide investigations, organized crime, or drug trafficking. Real-time information helps mobilize resources in advance and improves decision-making on the ground.
At the same time, the rise of commercial drones and its use in recent conflicts has highlighted its potential as threat in airports and sensitive areas, which is driving the development of integrated detection, identification, mitigation and forensic analysis systems that are being showcased at the forum.
Public-private organization and cooperation
The overall coordination of the IDES in Ávila is carried out with Interpol Spain and UAS Norway, under the supervision of the National Police Air Unit and with logistical support from the National Police Academy. The format combines highly specialized technical content with training modules, reinforcing the educational aspect of the center and its international projection.
The participation of technology companies and universities fosters the transfer of results to the operational field and accelerates the arrival of C-UAS solutions to the market. interoperable standardsThis is especially relevant for European police forces that share risk scenarios and regulations.
Impact for Spain and Europe
The IDES event in Ávila reinforces Spain's leadership in aviation safety and boosts the industrial ecosystem of detection and neutralization of drones and provides critical mass for advancing regulatory and collaborative frameworks. The focus on digital evidence, airspace protection, and coordinated incident response contributes to greater resilience in the European environment.
With diverse participation and practice-oriented content, the forum acts as a catalyst for aligning police capabilities, regulations, and cutting-edge technology. The combination of international cooperation, training, and operational demonstrations leaves Spain and its European partners better positioned to address the challenges. challenges of the drone era with technical and legal guarantees.
