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The German military is abandoning Chinese-made drones amid security risks and fears of espionage

Riana Gegiu

11 November 2026, 13:03

International

Foto: Shutterstock.com

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The German military will no longer use drones made in China, a Defense Ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday, amid concerns about military and cybersecurity. The Chinese equipment will be replaced with European products to strengthen the Bundeswehr’s technological sovereignty.

The Chinese drones had been authorized for training and target-shooting exercises because of their low cost. However, the decision does not represent a general ban on all systems or vehicles originating from certain countries. The use of equipment will be determined based on individual risk assessments, particularly in the case of devices equipped with sensors that could collect sensitive data.

The change was first reported by the German publication Der Spiegel. According to the report, a strategy adopted in 2024 allowed local commanders to purchase drones included on a list of approved systems, among them models produced by the Chinese company DJI.

Berlin’s decision comes amid broader caution among Western militaries. The United States recently restricted Chinese BYD vehicles from accessing a military base in Okinawa, while Poland banned China-made vehicles from its military facilities in February. DJI maintains that its drones pose no security risks and that an independent assessment found no data transmissions outside the United States.

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Context: In Germany, security concerns related to drones and Chinese technologies are intensifying ahead of the decision on replacing the systems

Shortly beforehand, Germany’s domestic intelligence service (BfV) warned publicly that the rapid development of Chinese technologies could affect the country’s technological sovereignty and security, mentioning risks such as data leaks or even the deactivation of certain systems. The warning was issued in the context of German authorities seeking to reduce the risks of dependencies, while purchases of Chinese electric vehicles are viewed “with great concern.”

At the same time, there have been incidents that have kept the issue of drones in the spotlight: a drone detection system was put into operation at Berlin Brandenburg Airport following repeated reports (28 cases in the first six months), while in another incident, an explosive drone was found near Leipzig/Halle Airport, with authorities suspecting the involvement of “foreign powers” and even discussing the coordination of measures with European partners.