Northern Germany: concern after drone overflights at night
In late February, suspicious flying objects appeared over Bundeswehr bases and critical infrastructure in northern Germany. Authorities began investigating this.
Symbolic image: Professional drones with a wingspan of 3 to 6 meters of unknown origin have flown over KRITIS and military facilities in northern Germany.
(Image: boscorelli/Shutterstock.com)
A series of nighttime drone overflights in northern Germany has sparked fears that the aircraft may be used to scout critical infrastructure and military facilities. According to media reports, the naval base in Wilhelmshaven and the airbase in Nordholz were among those affected. Sightings were also reported from Bremerhaven, Hamburg and over a natural gas storage facility in Jemgum, East Frisia. The aircraft were sighted at the end of February.
The drones used are said to have been professional devices with wing spans of three to six meters, according to joint investigations by WDR, NDR and SĂĽddeutsche Zeitung. It is suspected that the drones entered German airspace from the North Sea. They could possibly have been launched from ships in the North and Baltic Seas. According to the report, Russia is suspected of being behind the actions in security circles, although there is no evidence of this so far.
Increased number of incidents
Security authorities are examining various scenarios as to the purpose of the overflights. In addition to scouting the infrastructure, for example for sabotage operations, the aim could also be to train Ukrainian soldiers on German soil. However, it is also conceivable that the drones are simply intended to create uncertainty and fear of war among the population.
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Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, there has reportedly been an increase in drone sightings throughout Germany. In Lower Saxony alone, the number of officially reported incidents rose from 41 in 2022 to 131 in 2024. Bundeswehr sites are particularly affected. Other European countries such as Denmark, Norway, and the UK have also reported incidents.
Discussion about drone defense
The increased number of overflights also raises the question of defense options. In addition to technical means, the legal situation is a major obstacle here. The German armed forces are currently only allowed to shoot down drones in exceptional cases. A new law on defense has yet to be passed in the Bundestag. The draft bill was submitted to the Federal Cabinet in mid-January.
The Bundeswehr set up a task force in 2023 to improve its use of drones and to be better able to defend against enemy devices.
(mki)
