# European Governments Expand Counter-Drone Powers

European governments are considering broader authority for utilities and other critical-infrastructure operators to detect, jam, and intercept drones, creating procurement demand for integrated counter-drone systems, sensors, software, and training. France has authorized approved operators and contractors to act near designated facilities and is evaluating systems, with an expanded list of sensitive sites targeted for equipment by 2027. In several countries, authorization rules and legal liability remain barriers to deployment, so procurement activity will depend on national regulatory frameworks as well as security needs.

- France’s evaluation and procurement activity, which began in summer 2026, points to opportunities for suppliers of detection, jamming, and interception capabilities for critical-infrastructure sites; no contract value or solicitation number is provided.
- Utilities and infrastructure operators may need integrated solutions and training, while contractors should assess how national authorization and liability rules affect which systems and services can be offered.
- Suppliers can use the French timeline and the broader European policy discussion to focus business development on infrastructure operators and procurement activity, while tracking national regulations as recommended in the signal.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Public Safety
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 21, 2026

### Government Entities
- French Ministry of the Armed Forces
- German Federal Ministry of the Interior
- Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence
- French Parliament
- Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (Polish Power Grid Company) (PSE)

### Vendors
- Rheinmetall ()

### Key Quotes
> It is a theoretical, and increasingly a practical, possibility that there could be heating outages this winter due to hybrid attacks.
> — Kristian Ruby, Secretary General of Eurelectric

### Sources
- [Europe weighs giving utilities, infrastructure companies more powers to bring down drones](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/10/21/europe-weighs-giving-utilities-infrastructure-companies-more-powers-to-bring-down-drones) - Defense News