At Christmas markets or in military zones, unauthorized overflights trigger an espionage or sabotage alert. The federal government is betting on greater control. The appearance of unknown drones in the sky has become a security challenge for Germany. After a series of notorious unauthorized overflights over a wide range of locations, from a Christmas market to politically sensitive areas, the government created a new special unit within the federal police to defend against such equipment.
Laws which until now did not mention drones are also being revised in order to counter the impression of powerlessness of the authorities in the face of a perceived hybrid threat.
In early October, drones paralyzed heavy air traffic in Munich, southern Germany, for several hours, leaving passengers stranded. On several occasions, they have appeared above seaports, railway lines, industrial facilities and even military zones.
These cases have often given rise to suspicions of Russian espionage. The drones would be “controlled by enemy powers,” German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said.
But these aren’t always security threats. In December, a drone unexpectedly flew over Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, a popular downtown Christmas market, putting police on alert. The equipment belonged to a blogger who wanted to take “beautiful aerial images”, ignoring a ban in force. The affair ended without major consequences.
New intelligence center
Neutralizing drones is complicated: they move at high speed and often disappear quickly. Whoever controls them generally remains anonymous.
Defense against drones is primarily the responsibility of the police of the 16 Länder and the federal police, which provide security at airports, train stations and borders.
The new Joint Drone Defense Center (GDAZ, in its German acronym), inaugurated this week by the Interior Ministry, will bring together information from the federal police, state police, intelligence services and the Bundeswehr around the clock in an integrated overview.
“In this way, we increase speed and precision in the fight against hybrid threats, sabotage and deliberate provocations,” said Minister Dobrindt.
Opposition critics of the government, however, say this is still not enough and say clearer responsibilities and more action by the state police are needed.
“You have to decide in a few minutes what to do against a potentially very dangerous drone,” explains Irene Mihalic, of the Green Party.
More power for the Bundeswehr
In addition, the Bundeswehr (armed forces) will benefit from more powers: it will be able to act against drones by using force, including shooting them down outside military zones. Until now, there was no legal basis for this. This is expected to change with a new version of the aviation safety law, currently under discussion in the Bundestag, the German parliament.
In practice, however, there will be few cases in which the police can resort to the Bundeswehr. In Germany, the functions of the police and the army are strictly separated.
In the event of a military attack with armed drones, the Bundeswehr would be responsible. If drones appear, for example, over an airport, a power station or the Munich Oktoberfest, this is the responsibility of the police. The company can request help from the Bundeswehr, but only if this prevents a particularly serious disaster.
“Bundeswehr operations inside the country are only permitted within very narrow limits and must remain so,” emphasized Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig.
Insufficient preparation
Is Germany well prepared to defend against drones with all the new measures? Aviation expert Gerald Wissel doubts it. “We are still a long way from truly effective detection and defense,” he says.
According to him, there will only be security if the lower airspace (which can be up to 250 meters high and where drones circulate) is fully monitored.
He also calls for a mandatory electronic identification system for all drones, so that it is possible to recognize equipment that possibly approaches crowds, industrial facilities or airports.
This still doesn’t happen. “If we don’t have a unified aerial panorama, it is not possible to distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ drones. This is our big concern,” he notes.
Drones have become a hobby
Buying a drone online or in a store and flying it has become a popular hobby in Germany. In 2023, the Statista portal recorded more than 350,000 drones for private use, more than in almost all other European countries.
Although there are many rules for users to follow, they are often ignored. Another proposal from experts is to restrict the recreational use of drones, limiting them to flying clubs and private properties, to a maximum height of 50 meters.
“As an amateur, it is forbidden to fly drones kilometers from your own field of vision,” explains Wissel, “but it is easy to do. And knowing where the person controlling the drone is is only possible with great technical effort.”
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