BILD: Over 20 drones spotted above German air base in late 2025

Over 20 drones were spotted over the Immelmann military airfield in Lower Saxony, Germany, on December 11, 2025, Bild reports.

Initially, Bundeswehr personnel noticed two drones and alerted police. Upon arrival, law enforcement found around 23 drones simultaneously flying over the airfield. 

Authorities were unable to determine the drones’ type, size, or flight altitude. Police and military observers monitored the activity for several hours.

By around 22:00, roughly 10 drones were still circling the barracks, with the last sighted around 23:30. How and in which direction the drones disappeared remains unclear. 

Drone activity reportedly continued for the next four days, with various drones likely having wingspans of at least two meters. Attempts to force them down using electronic jamming systems were unsuccessful.

A Bundeswehr spokesperson confirmed the incident but declined to comment on details, citing security concerns. The operator behind the drones is unknown. Some experts believe the flights were deliberate intelligence-gathering missions for potential attacks. 

Bild notes this is not an isolated case. Counter-drone systems failed in at least three other incidents last year, highlighting that the German armed forces lack adequate defences against reconnaissance drones. 

From July to September 2025, 261 drone-related incidents were recorded, including over Bundeswehr facilities, defence companies such as Rheinmetall, and energy infrastructure.

By Jeyhun Aghazada