In recent days, drones have been observed at several Swedish nuclear power plants.

The events have raised the question of how great a risk unidentified drones at security-classified objects actually pose.

Athur Holland Michel is a drone expert and senior researcher at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, among others.

He believes that there are examples of previous international cases where observed drones may theoretically have collected information about sensitive places.

From a military and security perspective, he sees three uses for the drones: to gather sensitive information and observe security-classified areas, to carry out actual attacks on a targeted target, and to create a sense of insecurity among the public.

- The use of drones makes monitoring of different areas much easier.

Through this technology, you can get information that you can not get at ground level, says Arthur Holland Michel.

There is a large symbol value

He also believes that there is a great symbolic value in the use of drones.

People who, for example, hear about how drones fly over places that should have a high level of security may begin to question what the protection actually looks like.

- Even if you do not plan an attack, it has a significant effect that the public questions security, says Arthur Holland Michel.

It is unclear who or who may be behind the observed drone flights at Swedish nuclear power plants.

According to Arthur Holland Michel, it is not excluded that this may be a foreign power, but he emphasizes at the same time that there is no evidence that this has happened over Swedish, European or American airspace.

Can be a growing problem

According to Arthur Holland Michel, there are several different technical solutions that can be used to protect against drone attacks.

There, technology in the form of radar or cameras that detect and then shoot down the drone can be used, but the problem is that there is no technical solution that guarantees one hundred percent protection against the drones.

- Traditionally, this type of technology was very expensive and many places that require high security do not have what is required to protect themselves from this type of surveillance, says Arthur Holland Michel.

He believes that the problem of drone flights in sensitive areas will probably be a growing problem in the future.