How Frequentis AG creates a secure basis for decision-making
Civil and military drone traffic is on the rise – that much is undisputed. However, this development also places greater demands on regulators, operators and technology providers. Austrian company Frequentis AG is rising to this challenge with a clear goal: greater safety through the networking of systems, innovations and real-time information.
Frequentis’ goal: safer and more coordinated airspace
The alarming example of Ukraine shows every day that warfare is currently taking on completely different dimensions than in the past. Many manoeuvres are carried out using drones in the air, on the ground and even in the water. With the growing number of drones, new requirements for airspace safety are emerging. Unlike conventional aircraft, drones often fly at altitudes that are neither clearly controlled by civil nor exclusively by military authorities. This leads to complex overlaps, especially where traditional aviation and new drone applications intersect.
Frequentis AG, is therefore increasingly focusing on the safe integration of drones into controlled airspace. The aim is to minimise risks, prevent collisions and, at the same time, ensure the efficient flow of information between drones, operators, air traffic control and defence.
Technology for civil and military use
To this end, the company develops and implements systems that both serve civil purposes – such as mountain rescue or natural disasters – and meet military requirements. In Austria, for example, Frequentis’ solutions help enable automated approvals for drone flights in civil environments, including integrated risk analysis. Key aspects here are reducing the burden on air traffic control and improving transparency in the airspace.
Furthermore, drones are increasingly taking on the role of intelligent sensor platforms, whether inspecting railway lines after landslides, searching for missing persons in the mountains or assessing the situation after natural disasters. The ability to collect information in real time and transmit it securely to ground stations is crucial here, as rescue operations require quick decisions.
In a military context, Frequentis supports the German Armed Forces in identifying drones with the aim of precise friend-or-foe recognition in the airspace. Only when it is known who an unmanned aerial vehicle belongs to, whether it is deliberately hiding or clearly visible, can effective countermeasures be taken. This type of airspace surveillance therefore forms the basis for coordinated drone defence in complex operational scenarios.
Global investment in security as a strategic cornerstone
Due to the current escalation of geopolitical crises, the demands on military security systems are increasing worldwide. In addition, many countries are investing more in their military security, which is reflected in rising budgets.
This results in several strategic priorities for Frequentis. In order to meet the new requirements, the high-tech company is expanding its portfolio in the defence segment in a targeted manner: These include systems for integrating and defending against drones – for example, for friend-or-foe identification – remote digital towers for military applications, surveillance and network solutions for distributing radar data, and modern voice communication systems, which continue to form the core business of the company and are being continuously developed.
At the most recent Annual General Meeting in 2025, Frequentis CEO Norbert Haslacher explained: “The aim is to monitor the airspace so that when a drone enters it, you know: Are you a friend or are you an enemy? And this friend-or-foe identification will play a role in many countries in the future because drones fly everywhere.”
Whether in everyday civilian life or in military crisis scenarios, only those who connect all players and have a clear picture of the air situation can make informed decisions and effectively counter threats. Frequentis AG offers integrated systems in the field of drone technology that bundle data from different sources and process it in a comprehensible way. This creates a clear, up-to-date picture of the air situation, which forms the basis for a coordinated response by all parties involved.
