German Cabinet Approves Law Allowing Military to Shoot Down Threatening Drones

The proposed amendment to the Aviation Security Act would permit the Bundeswehr to neutralize drones posing severe risks to critical infrastructure or public safety.

• The German cabinet has approved a draft amendment to the Aviation Security Act, enabling the Bundeswehr to shoot down drones in certain high-risk situations.
• The law change is intended to address the growing use of drones for espionage and sabotage, particularly over critical infrastructure and military facilities.
• Currently, the Bundeswehr can only take limited actions, such as forcing drones to land or issuing warnings, but not use weapons against them, even in emergencies.
• The new proposal allows military intervention if state police lack the technical capability to neutralize the threat and request assistance from the Bundeswehr.
• The amendment requires parliamentary approval and is expected to be debated in the Bundestag before the upcoming federal election in February 2025.

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