Overview

• 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.