Drone alarm in Rhineland-Palatinate: Attacks on the military and BASF!

Drone alarm in Rhineland-Palatinate: Attacks on the military and BASF!

In Rhineland-Palatinate, concerns about security have increased after more and more illegal drone flights over critical infrastructure were reported. BASF and Ramstein Air Base in particular are increasingly coming into the focus of foreign secret services. Experts and security authorities warn about the possible consequences of these developments. Loud Rhine Palatinate Drones of unknown origin have appeared over these sensitive locations, raising questions about the current security situation.

Illegal drone surveillance could be orchestrated directly from Russia. Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) said the sightings of drones over Ramstein were part of hybrid warfare. In recent months, an increasing number of drone flights have been registered over the military property, which are apparently used to spy on military movements. SWR reported the first sightings as early as December, and the number of observed flights increased in a very short time. Since then, authorities have reported around 30 sightings in one year at US military bases in Rhineland-Palatinate alone.

Strategic importance

Rhineland-Palatinate has developed into a strategically important point for secret services due to its military facilities and the presence of numerous internationally operating companies. Ebling emphasizes that the region plays a central role for NATO, which also makes it a target for espionage activities. This assessment is supported by the increase in suspicious drone flights over military and industrial facilities located on NATO territory, such as Liveye reported.

The security situation is further complicated by the larger number of drone flights connected to critical infrastructure. In 2022, the State Criminal Police Office registered 61 incidents and investigated in collaboration with other security authorities. These types of operations made it clear that the technical security challenges are significant. Experienced pilots are difficult to detect and the technical combating of drones carries its own risks.

Threat and reactions

While the State Criminal Police Office sees no immediate threat from the drone flights, terrorism expert Holger Schmidt expresses particular concern. He warns that the flights are potentially dangerous and represent a new trend in hybrid warfare. “We have to act quickly to develop technical solutions to detect these drones,” demanded Ebling and discussed the need for a comprehensive discussion about the technical equipment of the security authorities.

These events raise questions not only about territorial security, but also about the effective security of critical infrastructure as a whole. Similar incidents have also recently been recorded at foreign bases such as those in the UK, reinforcing the international dimension of the problem. Given these developments, it is clear that Rhineland-Palatinate and the security authorities face a growing challenge and require joint efforts to counter these threats.