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Dutch Troops Fire at Drones Over Volkel as Germany Moves to Expand Counter-Drone Powers

The latest incidents underscore mounting gaps in Europe’s ability to detect and stop small unmanned aircraft.

Overview

  • Dutch forces reported sighting drones over Volkel airbase on Friday evening and opened fire from the ground, but the aircraft escaped and their purpose remained unclear.
  • In Germany, the federal cabinet advanced a reform of the Aviation Security Act this week to let the Bundeswehr support state police and use force in catastrophic cases after a faster decision process.
  • Bavaria is extending police powers for drone defense, equipping officers with armed counter-drones, and establishing a dedicated competence and defense center in Erding.
  • Germany’s air traffic control authority logged 192 drone-related disruptions in October 2025 compared with 161 for all of 2024, and DLR estimated about €0.5 million in airport losses for 2024.
  • Authorities say investigations continue and attribution is difficult, while the federal government suspects many incidents are linked to Russia without publicly available proof.