FULDATAL, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – Germany is expanding its counter-drone capabilities as authorities strengthen protection around airports and other critical sites. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the task would remain a long-term challenge for German security agencies. He made the remarks during a visit to the Federal Police aviation unit in Fuldatal, Hesse. Dobrindt said rapid advances in drone technology require equally fast improvements in detection and defence systems.
The Federal Police launched a specialist counter-drone unit in December 2025 to support operations across Germany. The force currently has about 70 personnel and is due to reach 300 officers by the end of 2026. Officials also plan to expand the unit from four locations to eight sites nationwide. The larger network is intended to give federal officers broader coverage and faster access to incidents involving unauthorised drones.
Germany has identified eight major airports for stronger counter-drone protection under Federal Police responsibility. They include Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart and Leipzig/Halle. Authorities are adding mobile equipment that can detect, track and respond to drones around sensitive aviation areas. The government has withheld detailed specifications for security reasons. Federal officers cover airport property, while state police retain responsibility for surrounding areas.
Federal drone unit grows after airport incident
The expansion gained fresh attention after an August 4 incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany. Federal prosecutors said a drone carrying professional explosives and a detonator entered the airport grounds. Investigators also examined a separate collision involving a cargo aircraft and an object believed to be another drone. Germany’s federal prosecutor took control of the case on August 6 and directed the continuing investigation.
The Federal Criminal Police Office is carrying out investigative work under the federal prosecutor’s authority. German officials have not publicly identified who was responsible for the Leipzig/Halle incident. Authorities have also avoided assigning responsibility while investigators review the available evidence. The case has increased official focus on drone threats near transport hubs and other critical infrastructure. Federal and state agencies continue to coordinate responses through existing security structures.
Research center adds new defence testing capability
Germany also opened a Technology Center for Drone Security on August 18 at the German Aerospace Center’s Cochstedt facility. The center also draws on research capabilities at the organisation’s Braunschweig site. Teams will test detection, tracking and defence technologies under realistic operating conditions. The German Aerospace Center plans to invest more than 10 million euros and create up to 40 positions. The facility will bring researchers, public security agencies and private technology specialists into joint testing programs.
The new center complements Germany’s Joint Counter-Drone Centre, which supports coordination between federal and state authorities. Germany has also expanded legal powers for the Federal Police to detect and counter dangerous drones. Dobrindt said authorities must keep developing systems as drone capabilities change quickly. The government’s current approach combines specialised police units, national coordination and dedicated research. Those measures form the core of Germany’s wider effort to improve protection against unauthorised drone activity.