The German Federal Armed Forces are to be granted the authority to intercept and potentially shoot down illegal drones in the event of a severe crisis, according to a proposal by the Federal Cabinet to amend the Aviation Security Act. The condition for such an intervention would be that the responsible police authorities in the states are not technically capable of handling the situation and have requested assistance.
“Drones can be a serious threat, particularly to our critical infrastructure, as an instrument of espionage and sabotage” said Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser. “Police authorities are continually developing their capabilities for detecting and countering drones. However, since the start of Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, we have seen an increasing number of drones being used, which pose an increasingly significant challenge for the police and their current technology. Therefore, it is necessary to create the authority in the Aviation Security Act for the Federal Armed Forces to intervene in severe crisis situations – including, if necessary, shooting down illegal drones.”
According to Faeser, this would enhance the protection of critical infrastructure. “And it shows: We will not be intimidated and are determined to face the current threats head-on.