Germany authorizes military to shoot down suspicious drones
The German government has passed legislation allowing the Bundeswehr to shoot down unidentified drones suspected of spying on military bases, industrial sites, and other critical infrastructure. The move comes amid growing concerns that some drones may be operated by state actors with potential sabotage or terrorism intentions.
Under the draft amendment to the Aviation Security Act, the military may use force against drones at the request of local police, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. Previously, authorities relied mainly on jamming technology to disable UAVs, but newer models are increasingly resistant.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius advocated the measure after repeated sightings of drones in restricted airspace near energy, transportation, and telecommunications facilities. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of protecting national infrastructure: “We must be able to defend ourselves so that we do not have to defend ourselves.”
The legislation permits the use of weapons or other anti-drone equipment, such as jammers, but only when no other options exist and when human lives or critical facilities are at risk. Officials have not named specific countries but suspect Russia and China may be behind some of the incidents.
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