Debate about the impending drone threat: DPolG and Federal Chancellor in Hamburg!

Debate about the impending drone threat: DPolG and Federal Chancellor in Hamburg!

In Hamburg and beyond, there is currently intensive discussion about security measures in the context of drone-related threats. At the most recent federal board meeting of the German Police Union (DPolG), the focus was on drone defense and legal adjustments to combat unwanted aviation. Like the DPolG reported, the planned changes to the Violence Protection Act and the Criminal Code are also important.

The military exercise “Red Storm Bravo”, which is considered the largest military exercise since the Cold War, is particularly exciting. This simulates an attack on NATO partners, with Hamburg serving as the logistical hub. In the context of this exercise, the “Falke” drone interception system is used at the University of the Bundeswehr, which uses a safety net to capture unwanted drones without damaging them. This innovative system is just one of many new anti-drone tools currently being developed to address the increasing drone threat ZDF reports.

Drone defense in focus

More and more experts are daring to make a critical assessment of Germany's preparation for drone threats. According to reports, the Bundeswehr has developed various systems, including "Interceptor", a wing drone designed to eliminate unwanted drones, and "Sonic AI", which uses acoustic sensors and artificial intelligence to detect and track drones at long distances. These developments are particularly exciting in light of increasing Russian espionage, which has increased again since the Ukraine conflict.

The federal government also plans to significantly improve drone defense. The plan is to supplement the federal police's special units with a drone defense unit. A drone defense center is also to be created, which will promote cooperation between federal bodies and states. These measures were also taken into account in the DPolG discussions, especially with regard to the restructuring of the state parts in the police mirror, so that from January 2026 the state associations of Lower Saxony/Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein/Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg/Saxony-Anhalt can appear united without incurring additional costs for the members, as was explained at the DPolG event.

Political reactions and future concerns

In another important step, Rainer Wendt, the reliable chairman of the DPolG, announced that he would not run for the office of federal chairman again. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has already confirmed his participation in the public event at the upcoming Federal Congress in 2026 and plans to give a keynote speech on internal security. This underlines the political relevance of the issue and the need for joint efforts to ensure airspace security.

Finally, it should be noted that the current situation signals an urgent need for action. Balancing the need to intercept drones and the legal framework will play a central role in the coming months. The question also arises as to whether the existing laws and measures are sufficient to maintain security in Germany, which is due to the large number of planned new regulations such as those daily news summarized, becomes clear.