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Cabinet Approves Expanded Bundespolizei Powers for Drone Defense

The decision sets drone defense as a core police task with dedicated funding and personnel.

Overview

  • The cabinet advanced a revised Bundespolizeigesetz that authorizes police‑operated surveillance drones and counter‑drone actions, with open‑use rules and court orders required for certain data collection.
  • The plan allocates about €90 million per year for counter‑UAS equipment and adds 341 positions to procure and operate the systems.
  • Drone defense responsibilities will focus on airports, rail hubs, federal facilities and ships, using detection suites, radio jammers, GPS disruptors and lasers.
  • The package also broadens authorities to locate mobile phones via silent SMS and mandates airlines to transmit passenger data on flights from outside Schengen.
  • A separate proposal to grant the Bundeswehr authority to shoot down drones remains under internal government review and was not on the cabinet agenda.