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Germany Moves to Tighten Drone Defense as Merz Points to Russia, Kremlin Denies

The cabinet will consider changes this week to clarify who can detect, jam or down suspicious aircraft.

Overview

  • Repeated sightings halted flights at Munich last week and triggered disruptions elsewhere, while police near Frankfurt linked one case to a hobby pilot.
  • Attribution remains unresolved; the chancellor publicly suspects Russia behind many flights, a claim Moscow rejects as baseless.
  • Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt proposes amending the Air Security Act, standing up a national drone‑defense center and a Bundespolizei unit, with cabinet review expected Wednesday.
  • Defense Minister Boris Pistorius urges a 24/7 nationwide situational picture via the new National Security Council and plans capability upgrades, including Skyranger 30 systems due by 2028.
  • Current rules limit domestic Bundeswehr action and keep police in the lead; officials caution that shoot‑downs over cities carry debris risks, while Bavaria prepares state measures to authorize counter‑drone action.