Germany will establish a national drone defense center and authorize security forces to shoot down unauthorized drones, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced on Wednesday.
Speaking in Berlin after a two-day Cabinet retreat, Dobrindt said new legislation will be introduced to expand the legal authority of police and armed forces to counter drone threats.
"We are observing a growing hybrid threat situation involving espionage and sabotage," Dobrindt said. "We need to develop new responses. This means detecting, defending against, and intercepting drones – which naturally also includes shooting them down."
The minister explained that the government plans to amend the Aviation Security Act and the Federal Police Act to create the necessary legal framework.
“In addition to the police, the German armed forces must also have the capability and the ability to act in drone defense, as part of mutual assistance,” he said. “We will establish a joint drone defense center. This center will enable the exchange of information between the federal and state governments, conduct threat analyses, assess the threat situation, and facilitate the coordination of operational measures.”
Dobrindt added that acquiring technical equipment, consolidating expertise, and ensuring cooperation between federal and regional authorities will be key elements of the new strategy.