FULDATAL, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – Germany is expanding its drone defence capabilities as authorities confront faster changes in unmanned aircraft technology. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said counter-drone work would remain a long-term task for the Federal Police. He spoke during a visit to the police aviation unit in Fuldatal, Hesse, on Thursday. Dobrindt described a continuing technology race between defence systems and those designed to overcome them.
The Federal Police created its specialist counter-drone unit in December 2025 for nationwide operations. The unit currently has about 70 personnel, according to the latest government figures. Authorities plan to increase that number to 300 officers by the end of 2026. The Interior Ministry also ordered an expansion from four planned locations to eight, aiming to improve coverage and response times across Germany.
Germany has also prioritised counter-drone equipment at major airports under Federal Police responsibility. Those airports include Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart and Leipzig/Halle. The government has been buying mobile detection and defence equipment for use at aviation facilities. Federal authorities have not publicly detailed the systems because of security concerns. Police are responsible for drone defence on airport grounds, while state police cover areas outside them.
Federal police unit expands nationwide
The expansion follows an August 4 security incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany. Federal prosecutors said a drone carrying professional explosives and a detonator entered the airport grounds. Prosecutors found sufficient evidence that someone intended to cause an explosion using the aircraft. A cargo plane also collided with an object, believed to be another drone, in the wider airport area. Germany’s federal prosecutor took control of the investigation on August 6.
The Federal Criminal Police Office is conducting the police investigation under the federal prosecutor’s direction. Authorities have not publicly identified who was responsible for the incident. The government has therefore avoided assigning responsibility while investigators continue examining the evidence. The case prompted renewed attention to protection of airports and other critical infrastructure. German officials have also highlighted the need for faster coordination among federal agencies, state authorities and security organisations handling drone incidents.
New research center targets drone threats
Germany opened a Technology Center for Drone Security on August 18 at the German Aerospace Center’s Cochstedt site. The facility also uses research capabilities at the organisation’s Braunschweig location. Researchers will test drone detection and defence technologies under realistic operating conditions. The German Aerospace Center plans to invest more than 10 million euros and create up to 40 positions. The center also connects researchers, security authorities and companies working on counter-drone systems.
The new facility operates alongside Germany’s Joint Counter-Drone Centre, which coordinates information and assessments among federal and state authorities. Germany has also updated federal police powers covering drone detection and defence. Dobrindt said the pace of technological change requires authorities to keep developing and testing new systems. The government’s current programme combines operational police units, coordinated security assessments and dedicated research as Germany strengthens protection against unauthorised and dangerous drones.