Drone alarm in Brandenburg: New police law planned for defense!

Drone alarm in Brandenburg: New police law planned for defense!

The discussion about security measures in Germany is gaining momentum, especially when it comes to the use of drones. The situation is particularly explosive in Brandenburg: Interior Minister René Wilke is planning to tighten the police law in order to respond to the increasing number of drone flights over military installations. In a recent report in the state parliament's interior committee, he found that the number of reported drone cases increased from 179 in 2022 to 180 by November 2023, with over 46 of these overflights involving military sites. This development raises concerns about possible espionage activities, especially since drones sold in Germany are equipped with an automatic lock for critical areas, but these can be manipulated relatively easily.

However, the problem is not just regional. In the first three months of 2025, over 500 suspicious drone flights over military installations and critical infrastructure were registered in Germany, reports the Federal Criminal Police Office. These incidents took place, among other things, over the Bundeswehr base in Schwesing and over a natural gas storage facility in East Frisia. In this context, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Germany is facing a new threat. Drones are repeatedly used not only for espionage, but also to disrupt air traffic.

Political reactions and new laws

Wilke's planned change in the law could give the police more freedom of action, especially with regard to security. So far, 26 drone operators have been identified. An incident in Brandenburg showed the scope of the problem: Air traffic at BER airport was recently stopped for almost two hours after a drone was spotted. These incidents raise questions about how these new technologies can be regulated and effectively countered.

Interestingly, there is already a law in Bavaria that allows drones to be shot down in the event of incidents. However, AfD domestic politician Lena Kotré expressed doubts about a significant deterioration in the security situation. What is unique about drone defense is that the responsibilities between the police and the Bundeswehr are complicated. While the police are responsible for small drones, the Bundeswehr theoretically has the right to shoot down military drones over German airspace.

Technical challenges and solutions

The question remains how drones can be effectively defended against. Various technologies such as jamming, i.e. the interruption of signals, and spoofing, which involves taking control of a drone, are being discussed. The Fraunhofer Institute is working on the IDAS-PRO drone defense system, which will use radar, cameras and artificial intelligence for detection. However, such systems are currently only in use to a limited extent and face challenges: The Bundeswehr's domestic deployment is severely restricted by the Basic Law, which makes it necessary to adapt legal regulations.

Alexander Dobrindt, the Federal Minister of the Interior, is therefore planning legal changes to improve drone defense, including the establishment of a special unit within the federal police. A new drone defense center is also intended to promote exchange between the various authorities and strengthen cooperation so that Germany can best meet the challenges posed by drone flights.