The German aerospace industry is sounding the alarm: According to its assessment, the Federal Republic is currently unable to effectively protect its critical infrastructure and military facilities from hostile drone attacks.
This worrying diagnosis, outlined in an urgent letter from the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) to the German Federal Government, reveals serious deficiencies in both the available technological solutions and the legal framework. The inadequate cooperation between the responsible authorities is further exacerbating the situation, according to the association. Given the rapid developments in the field of unmanned aerial systems and their widespread use in current conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, the industry is urgently calling for government support in the development and procurement of modern defense technologies to ensure national security and ensure the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr.
Acute protection gaps: drone defense in Germany inadequate
The recent warning issued by the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) to the German federal government reveals a serious weakness in its national security architecture. The association concludes that Germany is not effectively able to protect its own infrastructure – both civilian and military – from the threat posed by hostile drones. This assessment is based on the identification of a lack of suitable technological solutions and an inadequate legal framework that would enable effective defense.
The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) provided a concrete example of these shortcomings, citing the Manching military airfield . There, for weeks, it had not been possible to detect or even prevent illegal drone overflights. Such incidents, particularly in the vicinity of military installations, are not only a breach of security regulations but also a potential gateway for espionage or even sabotage. They illustrate the difficulty of detecting and effectively countering such small but agile flying objects.
Marie-Christine von Hahn , CEO of the BDLI (German Aerospace Industries Association), expressed her concern in no uncertain terms: "The fact that enemy spy drones often outmaneuver police aircraft systems is simply not in line with our self-image as a resilient constitutional state." This statement underscores the discrepancy between the claim of national security and the actual capacity to defend against a modern threat. Von Hahn therefore calls for closer cooperation between authorities and, at the same time, government support for the development of new defense technologies . The association identifies the complexity and inadequacy of cooperation between the various responsible institutions for drone defense as a major problem.
The challenge of drone defense is multifaceted: It ranges from the detection of small flying objects in complex airspaces to classification (is it a recreational drone, a civilian inspection drone, or a threat?) and neutralization. This requires various technologies such as radar, optical sensors, radio direction finding, and electronic warfare, as well as kinetic defense systems such as drone nets or jammers. According to the industry, Germany is lagging behind in the development and implementation of such integrated systems.
Combat drones and defense capabilities: A look beyond national borders
The BDLI's list of demands goes beyond mere drone defense and also addresses the need to catch up in the development of cooperative combat drones (CCA) . These advanced flight systems, capable of operating autonomously or semi-autonomously in swarms and cooperating with manned combat aircraft, are already highly developed, particularly in the United States, where they are on the verge of being introduced into the armed forces. The "Loyal Wingman" concept, in which drones act as unmanned escorts to combat aircraft, is one example of this development.
German industry argues that such combat drones must also be procured from abroad in order to quickly make Germany "war-ready." This term, which has recently gained traction in political discourse, refers to the need to quickly and comprehensively equip the armed forces for the demands of modern conflicts. The lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where the use of drones significantly influences the course of combat, underscore the urgency of this demand.
At the same time, domestic industry insists on its involvement in the procurement process . It wants to maintain its independent research and produce at least parts of these systems itself. This is intended to secure Germany's technological sovereignty and reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers. Adherence to NATO standards and increased industrial support are necessary to achieve this. Integrating drone systems into the defense strategy requires not only procurement but also the development of domestic capabilities in design, production, and maintenance.
Urgent need for protection for the Lithuania Brigade: Lessons from the Ukraine war
The BDLI's warning also directly addresses specific military needs. In the short term, the German Armed Forces urgently require modern tactical drone systems for the brigade currently being established in Lithuania . This brigade, which is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, comprises approximately 4.800 soldiers and 200 civilian employees. The deployment of this brigade on NATO's eastern flank underscores the growing importance of collective defense within the alliance.
The association explicitly points to the widespread use of drones in the Ukraine war . There, drones, ranging from simple quadcopters to complex surveillance and attack models, have played a central role in reconnaissance, target acquisition, and even direct combat. "To protect these 4.800 soldiers and 200 civilian employees, the German Armed Forces urgently need a modern, drone-based reconnaissance and combat network," demands the BDLI. This includes not only defensive systems but also its own offensive and reconnaissance drones capable of gathering information and, if necessary, engaging targets. Drone warfare capabilities have become an indispensable component of modern armed forces.
Equipping the Lithuania Brigade with such systems is not only a matter of operational efficiency, but also of protecting the deployed troops. Given the experience from current conflicts, in which air superiority is often determined by the use of unmanned systems, an adequate drone capability is essential for any modern army.
Challenges of civil drone integration: A European patchwork
Beyond the military aspects, the industry association also highlights the challenges of integrating civilian drones into airspace . The BDLI sees a "patchwork of different approval procedures" in the individual countries of the European Union. This lack of uniformity significantly hinders the economic use of drones.
Civil drone applications range from infrastructure inspection (bridges, wind turbines) and agriculture (crop analysis) to logistics and film production. For successful commercial use, standardized procedures and technology-driven infrastructure improvements are essential . This applies not only to permitting processes but also to the development of a common European airspace management system for unmanned aerial systems (U-Space). A fragmented regulatory framework stifles innovation and makes it difficult for companies to offer cross-border services. Harmonizing regulations at the EU level would be a crucial step toward unlocking the full potential of civil drone technology and establishing Europe as a leading location for this industry. Such development would also enable synergies with military systems, for example, in the development of sensors and autonomous navigation capabilities. The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), with its urgent appeal to the Federal Government, has revealed serious weaknesses in Germany's drone defense capabilities. Both technological shortcomings and an inadequate legal and cooperative framework are considered critical. The demand for government support in the development and procurement of modern defense systems and cooperative combat drones, as well as the urgent need to equip the German Armed Forces brigade in Lithuania with drone technology, reflect current threat scenarios and lessons learned from international conflicts. At the same time, the association emphasizes the need to harmonize civilian drone regulations within the EU in order to fully exploit the economic potential of this technology.