Germany may still allow soldiers to shoot down unknown drones over military targets
Germany is planning to allow the military to shoot down suspicious drones near military installations or critical infrastructure.
Here's What We Know
The amendments to the Aviation Security Act were introduced by the federal government on 15 January. The final decision on this will be made by members of the Bundestag.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Interior Minister Nancy Feather stressed the need to strengthen the protection of the country's key facilities, given the threat of drones being used for espionage or sabotage by foreign countries.
Feather noted that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the use of drones over German infrastructure has increased significantly, creating new challenges for law enforcement agencies. Current German law allows for distracting drones, threatening to use force, or firing warning shots, but prohibits shooting them down, even in the event of a serious threat.
The responsibility for neutralising drones currently rests with the police in the region where they are detected, which involves lengthy bureaucratic procedures. In December 2024, Rhineland-Palatinate witnessed a massive intrusion of unidentified drones, which were likely flying near military installations but were not shot down or intercepted.
Source: BBC
