How is Germany planning to solve the problem of drones?
Germany admits that it is lagging in defending its airspace against drones. In recent weeks, suspicious Russian drones have entered the airspace of several NATO countries, and reports have circulated about them flying over Germany itself. This prompted Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to state that Berlin is required to fill a serious gap. Shooting down drones with fighter jets is possible, but it is costly and dangerous, especially over populated areas, which necessitates looking for other alternatives.
One practical solution is rapid-deployable mobile systems like Skyranger (an anti-aircraft vehicle produced by Rheinmetall), capable of countering swarms of drones. The German armed forces (Bundeswehr) have ordered 19 of these vehicles, but they will not be delivered before 2027, while experts believe the need is much greater. The Gepard (anti-aircraft tank), which was retired years ago and later sent to Ukraine, has proven highly effective in repelling Russian drone attacks.
Germany is also expanding its defense tools to go beyond heavy weapons. The new arsenal includes shoulder-mounted jamming devices and German-made interceptor drones that capture enemy aircraft with nets. Expert Ulrike Franke emphasizes the need to build a multi-layered defense system that combines electronic warfare, kinetic interception means, and low-tech solutions like net launchers to cover various types of threats.
However, legal and regulatory challenges complicate the scene. Responsibilities are divided between the German army and the police in the 16 states: the army is responsible for repelling external attacks and protecting military sites, while the police are responsible for internal security. To bridge this gap, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt proposes amending the Air Security Act to allow the army to assist the police, in addition to establishing a new center for defense against drones to coordinate the efforts of the federal government and the states.
At the same time, the German army is moving towards arming itself with attack drones. Inspector General Carsten Breuer announced field exercises using armed drones for the first time, while Berlin agreed to purchase kamikaze drones (loitering munitions) — small, single-use drones equipped with explosive warheads. This represents a significant shift in policy after years of hesitation in introducing attack aircraft and autonomous systems. The procurement strategy has also changed: instead of stockpiling thousands of models that may quickly become outdated, contracts are now being signed to acquire the latest models in large quantities and quickly. German startups in the field of artificial intelligence, such as Helsing (from Munich), have already demonstrated their ability to produce thousands of combat drones for Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has been a harsh lesson: drones are reshaping battlefields through comprehensive reconnaissance and cheap suicide drones, creating a "transparent battlefield" where movements are quickly revealed and expensive military equipment becomes vulnerable to destruction. Germany is now seeking to leverage this experience, accelerate innovation, and improve coordination between the military, police, and industry — but experts believe that building a "complete shield against drones" over the country remains unrealistic.