Germany sees surge in suspicious drones near military sites, Berlin boosts defenses

Germany has seen a marked increase in suspicious drone sightings near military installations and critical infrastructure. A Bundeswehr spokesperson said reports of drones near armed forces sites have risen since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with groups of several drones sometimes spotted simultaneously. Security agencies treat these incidents as part of a broader threat picture that also includes espionage, cyberattacks, sabotage and disinformation.

Incidents grow more serious

On 6 August, two drones were spotted near a Bundeswehr base in Mechernich, prompting a military police response and a police investigation. Days earlier, a drone equipped with professional-grade explosives and a detonator was found at Leipzig/Halle airport and neutralized in a controlled explosion. The airport is a major hub for cargo transport and military logistics, including support operations for Ukraine and NATO. Germany's federal prosecutor has taken over the investigation, and according to media reports US intelligence agencies suspect possible Russian involvement, which Russia denies. German officials have not officially confirmed this theory.

Airports disrupted too

Drones have also begun disrupting civil aviation. On the night of 11 August, a drone near Hannover airport forced a temporary runway closure, delaying passenger flights and diverting a cargo plane. The same night at Leipzig/Halle airport, another unidentified drone-like object collided with a cargo aircraft, which landed safely.

Berlin's response

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt plans to double the federal police's anti-drone expert team from around 150 to 300 personnel and expand the number of bases equipped for anti-drone defense. German officials increasingly speak of preparing for hybrid warfare threats, in which drones could be used not only for attacks but also for reconnaissance and monitoring critical infrastructure.