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Eyes in the Sky, Instinct on the Ground: The “Smart” Alliance That Greek Security Needs

Seeing everything that has been happening around us lately and as security challenges in urban centers worldwide increase, we all want to know how to live our daily lives with the greatest possible security.

A very smart solution to this problem would be to use drones as “First Responders”.

Already, at three Florida universities, drones are the first line of defense against active shooters, as a UAV can reach the appropriate point much faster than a patrol car.

In this way, immediate action teams can have a live view of the scene before even entering the building, already knowing critical information about the weaponry, the number of perpetrators, and their exact location.

At the same time, drones have the ability to intervene directly against perpetrators, either through "physical" contact, or through the use of special means, such as pepper ball rounds.

Additionally, by using infrared sensors, authorities gain the ability to see through smoke or in total darkness, spotting anyone trying to escape or hide.

However, where technology reaches its limits, a well-trained and properly trained protection dog (K9) remains irreplaceable.

Specifically, a K9 dog can immobilize an armed perpetrator, without endangering bystanders with crossfire, acting as a "smart" non-lethal suppression weapon and constituting an unpredictable and fast adversary.

Of course, the ideal scenario would be the "marriage" of nature with technology, where drones would locate the terrorist and K9s, with the appropriate commands, would immobilize him with precision.

However, this venture requires a lot of work and hard training to succeed. It takes hundreds of hours of joint practice so that the dog stays focused on its target, ignoring the noise and movement of the drone above it, while at the same time the K9 handler must receive real-time information to guide the dog with surgical precision.

Only through such absolute coordination can technology and instinct become a truly impenetrable safety net!

In Greece, there is a great potential of trained K9 dogs that remains largely untapped. A very good start would be for the Greek Armed Forces and Security Forces, from the Police to the Border Guard, to invest in upgrading this training, integrating drones into the daily training of K9 units.

There is no need for “parthenogenesis.” We just need to use a little “imagination,” seriously investigate how other countries are dealing with similar problems, and adapt those solutions to our own needs. It is time to open a more intense and meaningful dialogue about our country’s urban security. The technology is here, the potential is there. What remains is the decision to connect them.