Germany has drone fever. Over the past few weeks, newspapers have been discussing drone types, experts have been commenting on countermeasures and the government has proposed a new law that regulates the German armed forces’ authority to shoot down drones above national territory. Behind all the frenzied attention are several drone sightings over critical infrastructure, most notably Munich airport in the first week of October, leading to dozens of canceled flights and thousands of delayed passengers. But what exactly has been happening, and why is there so much attention now? And more importantly, can Germany stop these mysterious drones over its territory, and if so, how should it do so?
Why is there so much attention now? Despite the recent attention, drone sightings over Germany are neither new nor uncommon. The German aviation agency has been tracking drone sightings reported by airline pilots over the past seven years. In every year but one, there have been over 100 sightings, with 92 recorded in 2020. That said, the numbers are going up noticeably: By September, there had already been 172 incidents logged for 2025, a level not reached in any previous year. In particular, sightings over critical infrastructure appear to have gone up, with drones seen over LNG terminals, ports and airports, as well as over military bases.
More concerning than the number of drone sightings are the types of drones spotted. As the drones have not been downed, no exact identification has been possible. But the reports point to drones that are bigger and/or faster than the types that hobbyist pilots usually fly. Also, in several instances, several drones were seen at the same time, rather than individual systems that might point to private use.