Germany urged to step up drone defences at airports

Germany’s authorities have been urged to accelerate the procurement and deployment of counter-drone systems at the country’s airports amid growing concerns over unauthorised UAV activity.

The German Aerospace Industry Association (BDLI) made the appeal during a government meeting on protecting critical infrastructure, Euractiv has reported.

According to the publication, only four of Germany’s eight major airports have received the promised counter-drone systems, while the remaining facilities are still awaiting deliveries. Authorities had set the end of the year as the target deadline for completing the deployment.

BDLI representatives also pointed to legal restrictions, noting that some airports still lack authorisation to independently detect drones outside their own premises.

According to Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), authorities recorded 1,289 drone-related incidents involving 2,310 UAV flights in 2025. The incidents affected military facilities, industrial sites and transportation hubs.

Last year, the German government announced plans to equip the country’s eight busiest airports with systems capable of detecting and countering drones. The airports are Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin Brandenburg, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Leipzig/Halle and Stuttgart.

Concerns over drone threats intensified earlier this month after a drone carrying explosives was reportedly detected at Leipzig/Halle Airport. German media reported that the UAV was found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft carrying ammunition. Investigators later discovered another drone near the airport.