Concerns are mounting over the coordination of defenses against drone incursions, prompting calls for a comprehensive overhaul of existing legal frameworks. Thomas Röwekamp, Chairman of the Defense Committee in the German Bundestag, has emphasized the urgency of resolving jurisdictional ambiguities hindering effective countermeasures.
Röwekamp, in statements to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, stressed that the current security landscape necessitates a cessation of bureaucratic infighting and the establishment of clear legal guidelines for addressing drone-related threats. He warned that adherence to federalist principles should not impede the ability to mount a robust and unified response.
The Chairman championed the recent announcement by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt regarding potential amendments to the Air Security Act. Röwekamp articulated the need to equip authorities with the technological capacity to neutralize drones, including the authorization for their interception, highlighting that current responsibility is overly dispersed. Currently, defense against drone attacks is fragmented across the Bundeswehr (responsible for military installations), 16 state police forces and the federal police, none of whom possess sufficient technical capabilities to effectively counter the threat.
Röwekamp underscored that the Bundeswehr remains the primary entity with this capability, but its mandate is currently limited to military properties. He advocates for the consolidation of responsibilities and the streamlining of legal stipulations to facilitate a more unified and immediate response to evolving threats.
Specifically, Röwekamp called for a clarification within the Air Security Act allowing the Bundeswehr to deploy its resources, through mutual aid agreements, to address drone incidents impacting civilian properties, including critical infrastructure located at sea. He further suggested the development of a new Maritime Security Act to clearly define the responsibilities of the German Navy in safeguarding vital maritime infrastructure.