Germany has made the decision to shoot down drones that come too close to military sites. This move is aimed at enhancing security and protecting sensitive military installations. The decision comes as a response to the increasing threat posed by drones, which can be used for espionage or even as weapons. Germany is not the only country taking such measures, as other nations have also been implementing drone defense systems to safeguard their military assets.
Germany’s cabinet has approved the use of military force to shoot down suspicious drones that are spotted near military sites or critical infrastructure.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated that the use of drones has been on the rise, particularly since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine. This has become a significant challenge for the police and their existing technology.
Russia has been accused of waging a covert campaign against Western nations that are providing support to Ukraine, although it denies these allegations.
There have been reports of various incidents involving alleged attempts to detonate explosives on international airliners, target critical infrastructure, or disrupt democratic elections.
According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Russia not only planned acts of air terror against Poland but also targeted airlines worldwide.
Without providing any specifics, he seemed to confirm the New York Times report about President Joe Biden’s warning to Putin regarding the alleged plans.
In November, Polish prosecutors revealed that several incidents of parcel fires that targeted courier companies in Europe were actually trial runs conducted by groups with the intention of sabotaging flights to the United States and Canada.
Tusk played host to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw. This meeting took place a day after Nato’s announcement of a new mission aimed at enhancing the surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea. The mission was prompted by the damage and severance of critical undersea cables that occurred last year.
In February 2022, Putin initiated a complete invasion of Ukraine.
In recent times, military bases have been experiencing multiple incidents of unidentified drones flying over them.
German police reported that on Sunday evening, they witnessed at least 10 drones flying above Manching Air Base, located near the city of Ingolstadt.
In the previous month, sightings were reported in Manching and the neighboring town of Neuburg an der Donau.
Drones were also sighted at the US air base located in Ramstein, as well as in an industrial zone nearby, situated in the North Sea.
Interior Minister Faeser stated that espionage or sabotage are often considered as potential causes.
The current rules restrict the German Army to assisting the police in compelling drones to move away or land. However, they are also allowed to fire warning shots to achieve this objective.
Soldiers may be authorized to shoot down a drone under new proposals, pending parliamentary approval. This action would be taken if they believe it is necessary to mitigate the threat the drone poses to people’s lives or critical infrastructure.
According to Polish prosecutors, a string of parcel fires that occurred in Poland, Germany, and the UK in November were actually dry runs with the intention of sabotaging flights to the US and Canada.
Western security officials suspect that these actions were part of a coordinated effort by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.
Russia denies responsibility for acts of sabotage.
There is suspicion that it has been responsible for other attacks on warehouses and railway networks in EU member states this year, including incidents in Sweden and the Czech Republic.