Significant increase in suspicious drone overflights above military objectives in Germany, reported by the Bundeswehr

The German armed forces, Bundeswehr, have observed a significant increase in the number of suspicious drones above military targets, with several hundred overflights reported in recent years.

A spokesperson for the Operational Command stated that these incidents have surged sharply since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and have remained at a high level. Most of the overflights involved individual drones, but there have also been cases of swarms of drones. The security environment in Germany and Europe has undergone fundamental changes, and the country faces daily hybrid threats, including cyberattacks and espionage.

Recently, two drones were observed above a military base in Mechernich, and a drone equipped with explosives triggered a security alert at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany has taken over the investigation in these cases.