As of: February 11, 2024, 11:32 a.m
By: Bettina Menzel
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A Russian drone on a test flight in Russia.
The Bundeswehr is increasingly noticing unauthorized drone overflights at its locations in Germany (symbolic image).
© Imago/Alexey Suhorukov/SNA
Small device, big impact: The Bundeswehr suspects that Russia is behind the increasing number of drone flights over Bundeswehr areas.
The defense is difficult.
Berlin - Even before the start of the war in Ukraine, around a million private drones were flying in German airspace - a challenge for German air traffic control even back then.
Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Bundeswehr has noticed more and more unauthorized drone overflights at its locations in Germany.
Experts assume that Russia is suspected of espionage, and there is currently not enough remedial action.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine war: espionage flights with drones over Germany have become more frequent
Drones are becoming increasingly important in the Ukraine war: for reconnaissance, but also for attacks.
A big impact can be achieved with comparatively simple means.
Both Kiev and Moscow have the unmanned flying objects in use.
It is believed that Russia is also apparently using the flying objects for espionage activities over Germany.
“The number of such incidents has increased recently,” confirmed a spokesman for the Bundeswehr’s Territorial Command to the German Press Agency (dpa).
So far, no way has been found to stop these suspected espionage activities, it said.
However, German soldiers are more vigilant with regard to possible spying attempts.
According to the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD), it is assumed that the alleged espionage relates, among other things, to the training of Ukrainian soldiers in Germany.
There were suspected cases on file in Wildflecken in Bavaria, in Grafenwöhr and in Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as at the Altengrabow military training area in Saxony-Anhalt.
Drone sightings over Bundeswehr areas: “It’s clear which direction things are going”
Despite numerous incidents, there have so far been no arrests of drone pilots.
The dpa also suspects that the reason for this is “complex responsibilities”: members of the troops are allowed to prevent crimes in Bundeswehr territory and can also detain people within the requirements of the law, according to the Territorial Command.
However, outside of Bundeswehr properties, the police of the respective federal state are responsible.
Without arrests, there is also a lack of concrete evidence: It is currently not proven whether the drones spotted were actually sent by the Russian secret service.
But the overflights are being observed at the beginning and end of training measures for Ukrainian soldiers, the MAD said.
Therefore, it is “relatively clear in which direction things are going,” MAD President Martina Rosenberg explained last fall.
With the Russian offensive and the associated consequences, the issues of espionage and cyber defense have clearly come to the fore, the Military Counterintelligence Service emphasized in its 2021/22 report.
Drone rules in Germany
In Germany, the use of commercially available mini drones is only permitted if the device remains within sight of the user.
However, it is technically possible to fly the small unmanned flying object several kilometers away from the remote control.
Anyone who uses a drone with a camera must register it.
There are different distance rules depending on the size and weight of the flying objects.
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Bundeswehr with new drone defense: ready for series production in 2028
To defend against drones, the Bundeswehr purchased the HP-47 effector defense jammer during its operation in Mali in 2018.
According to the force's own information, the device can emit interference signals that, among other things, interrupt the radio signals for remote control and the transmission signals for image transmission via video or photo camera.
This would allow approaching drones to be stopped and forced to land in a controlled manner.
In addition, additional modern systems have recently been procured in an unbureaucratic manner, according to a statement from the Territorial Command in December.
Overall, the Bundeswehr still lacks a powerful system against drones.
The force itself speaks of a “significant capability gap”.
An “air defense system for close and immediate area protection”, or LVS NNbS for short, is now intended to remedy the situation.
As recently became known, the three German defense companies Rheinmetall Electronics, Diehl Defense and Hensoldt Sensors joined forces to develop the drone killer.
The system is just as suitable for space protection as it is for defending moving troops against attacks from the air, it said.
However, it may still take some time until it is used for the first time: series production is planned for 2028
(bme with dpa).