Reports indicate a significant increase in unauthorized drone flights across Germany this year, according to inquiries conducted by “Welt” among the 16 federal states’ interior ministries. The focus of concern centers on the potential misuse of drone technology, sensor capabilities and operational tactics, particularly around military installations and other critical infrastructure.
States are reporting a marked rise in sightings of what are officially termed “Unmanned Aerial Systems” (UAS). Brandenburg, for example, registered 35 drone sightings over military facilities in the first nine months of the year-a threefold increase compared to the entirety of the previous year. Similar drone-related incidents were also recorded near industrial plants and airports, though at a lower, mid-single-digit frequency.
Lower Saxony’s interior ministry reported a total of 272 incidents involving unidentified aerial objects or unusual lights in the sky. This is a substantial increase from the 131 such incidents recorded for the entire year of 2022, specifically related to critical infrastructure and military sites.
Detailed information from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern highlights specific locations affected. Sightings occurred near the Bundeswehr property in Putgarten and an unnamed police facility last year. Critical infrastructure along the Baltic Sea is also targeted, with three recorded instances of drones circling over the Lubmin industrial port. Authorities also noted suspicious aerial activity near the Mukran LNG terminal and a drone sighting by the nuclear power plant supply facility in Rubenow. The state reports 68 similar incidents recorded so far this year.
The motivation behind these unauthorized flights remains largely unknown. A spokesperson for Baden-Württemberg’s interior ministry stated that attributing the flights to a foreign intelligence service is typically unfeasible. Baden-Württemberg’s Interior Minister Thomas Strobl commented on the situation, stating, “We are neither at war nor truly at peace. We must strengthen nationwide drone defense capabilities”. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts between the federal government and state authorities, emphasizing the expansion of drone detection and defense capabilities and closer cooperation between police forces and the Bundeswehr. He warned that failure to adapt rapidly risks falling behind in the evolving drone technology landscape.
Saxon Interior Minister Armin Schuster suggested the potential need for a specialized law enforcement unit, drawing a comparison to the Gendarmerie in France. “Given the current security situation, the question arises whether the Federal Republic of Germany needs a paramilitary federal police force again” he stated, suggesting the matter be evaluated by the National Security Council.
