Following a loss of control, an emergency landing in Poland was necessitated by a US Reaper drone. The US Air Force's Miroslawiec base in Poland, managed by the 52nd Operations Group, has been operating these MQ-9 Reaper drones since 2018.
Operational Practices
Majority of these drones are commandeered from the US, with American military personnel and private technicians in Poland also contributing to operations. The USAF in September successfully trialed the Satellite Launch and Recovery Package (SLR-P) with the intention of simplifying drone activities in Poland and Europe.
Central to pre and post flight operations is a portable ground station known as PACS. Working in conjunction with the Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) system, the PACS allows for comprehensive flight management.
Drone Limitations
One of the primary limitations of a Reaper drone is its restricted control range. It can only be overseen from its guidance site to a maximum of 200 km or via satellite link.
Emergency Landing
On March 18, emergency landing procedures were enacted by a US MQ-9 Reaper near Miroslawiec. The catalyst for this was a loss of contact with its ground station during a training flight. The landing was performed in an uninhabited area, ensuring safety.
Investigations are currently underway by the Military Service of Public Order to understand the cause of this incident. The Pentagon has confirmed that the drone's connection with the control station was unexpectedly severed, which directly affected its operation.
Probable Causes
The incident may have been the result of a technical fault or possible electronic jamming of the link. Notably, there is extensive GPS interference in the region which lends weight to the jamming theory.
Recent activities by Russian forces in the neighboring region of Kaliningrad involve the use of devices capable of disrupting satellite links and GPS signals. This is alarming considering the high rate of GPS interference in northern Poland.
Security Measures
Despite the prevalence of GPS interference, a Reaper drone should theoretically be immune as its navigation system is also inertial. This mechanism makes the drone less dependent on GPS, thus reducing its susceptibility to jamming.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time US forces in Poland have lost a reconnaissance drone under analogous circumstances. In July 2023, a similar event transpired when a US Army-operated drone crashed in Lower Silesia post losing contact with its ground station.