The dome to protect critical points in Catalonia against the threat of drones

Sabadell / BarcelonaThe room is filled with screens. They display footage from cameras along some of the country's major highways, but above all, there are four aerial maps: one of Catalonia, one of the metropolitan area, one of Barcelona, and one of the airport. Various symbols appear, such as blue dots, red zones, and red dots. These represent installed drone detectors, protected airspace zones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) currently in flight. All of this is located in the central command room of the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), at the Egara Central Complex, enabling them to detect everything passing overhead. Often invisible to the naked eye, imperceptible to the ear, drones represent a "new challenge for the security of Catalonia." The head of the Mossos, Josep Maria Estela, explains that until a few years ago, police work focused primarily on the ground. But the emergence of drones, among other devices, has forced them to look to the skies: "We have adapted to this new reality to face threats ranging from the protection of critical infrastructure to large crowds," says the commissioner. To this end, five years ago they launched Project Kuppel, a pioneering plan based on a NATO-approved system, which creates a kind of protective dome over Catalan airspace to detect drones flying over the country and even disable them if they pose a threat—although this is the final stage. "The goal is to have more antennas; they are our eyes on the ground," Estela affirms. Currently, there are several in Barcelona—such as at the Sagrada Família and Camp Nou—and at the airport. Every drone flying near these locations is detected, and its registration, altitude, and the location of the operator can be determined.

Sub-Inspector Avelí Garcia, head of the Mossos d'Esquadra's Air Unit, explains that these threats are often not real, as they are caused by drone pilots who are unaware of the regulations and are using them recreationally. For example, this is a common problem at the Sagrada Família. "Drones are not toys," he warns. However, the potential for drone-related problems can also affect critical industries such as chemicals or the organization of large events. "We must combat technology with more technology," states the sub-inspector, who is also a pilot. Currently, the Mossos have 45 drones, including a fixed-wing drone that can fly up to 10 kilometers.

Police Allies

Just as drones can be an enemy, they have also become an ally of the police. "They have allowed us to improve the control of demonstrations, detect more marijuana plantations, and enter certain areas more safely," explains Commissioner Estela. The management of a demonstration, for example, has completely changed. Before, there were many patrol cars, and only a helicopter observed it from above. Now, with drones, "more qualitative" decisions can be made from the control room, as it's possible to better anticipate where the protest is heading or which group is the most disruptive. They have also been used to identify license plates. radish Illegal, for example, for conducting an external inspection during an eviction or for pursuing burglars. Similarly, they can detect marijuana plantations hidden in the forest and even see how many guards are present and whether they are armed. The Special Intervention Groups (GEI) also use drones in the most sensitive operations. An increasing number of services are being carried out with these devices, reaching 993 since January 2025. Therefore, according to Estela, the force is moving towards decentralizing the unit and distributing it throughout the territory so that they can reach all locations more quickly. Drones have also become a way to smuggle prohibited items, such as cell phones and drugs, into prisons. To prevent this, the Generalitat will install devices in all penitentiary institutions to detect and jam them, specifically integrated into the Kuppel system. Last week, the Justice Department confirmed that the system will be deployed between next year and 2027. It has already been tested in Brians 1 and 2 prisons, and a few weeks ago it helped the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) catch a man sending drugs and cell phones to inmates. The police force is responsible for security around the prison perimeter, so the decision to disable a drone, for example, rests with the officers.

"At the slightest risk, the drone is deployed."

The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) can also use drones in floods and other emergencies, as the Generalitat Fire Department has been doing since 2021. "There's a significant improvement in decision-making," says Sergeant Marc Matadarrodona, head of drones for the Fire Department. These devices are used to search for people in the wild, equipped with cameras and heat detectors. They are also used in house and warehouse fires to measure temperatures, check for trapped individuals, and observe if any structures are about to collapse. "It greatly enhances the safety of the firefighters themselves. At the slightest risk, the drone is deployed," the sergeant states.

For example, in search and rescue operations, firefighters are using an artificial intelligence program: "We mark a search area and conduct a programmed flight. It takes 2,000 high-resolution photos. We input information such as what the person was wearing, and it alerts us if there's a person lying down, and detects temperatures that could correspond to a human." They've even invented a repeater attached to the drone that forces a connection with any mobile phone, allowing them to locate the phone and, likely, the missing person. "Several fire departments have contacted us to see how we do it," the sergeant recalls.

Drones have also greatly improved the management of forest fires. Thermal cameras can detect the distance to the smoke plume or identify secondary fires. "Before, we were at a disadvantage at night, since helicopters and small planes couldn't take off," he reminisces. Now, this has changed: the control room constantly receives images from drones, allowing for better decision-making, reducing the risk to firefighters, and simultaneously improving fire perimeter and determining the best approach. "In the long run, drones could help us in almost every service," explains Matadarrodona. Currently, the department has 25 drones, although they are already requesting more. As a new development, they will purchase drones capable of carrying payloads, for example, to deliver tools or supplies to hard-to-reach locations.