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German Cabinet Backs Law Letting Federal Police Shoot Down Drones

Lawmakers will now weigh the bill after drone sightings disrupted airports.

Overview

  • The cabinet advanced a reform of the Bundespolizeigesetz that authorises state-of-the-art countermeasures, including jamming, GPS interference and, in danger situations, physical interception or shoot‑down.
  • The draft foresees a joint drone‑defence unit for federal and state police to coordinate responses, with officials citing exchanges with Israel and Ukraine on best practices.
  • Planned resourcing includes roughly €90 million annually for equipment and 341 additional staff dedicated to operating and procuring systems.
  • A separate change to the Luftsicherheitsgesetz is being prepared to permit the Bundeswehr to act against certain non‑civil or military drones, clarifying roles between armed forces and police.
  • Bavaria separately approved a regional bill to let local police destroy drones and establish a competence centre in Erding, while state officials in Hesse and NRW urged tight coordination and stressed that any shoot‑down remains a last resort due to risks to bystanders.