Overview

• On May 17, seven suspected Russian drones tracked the Bundespolizei’s BP81 Potsdam and a Russian cargo vessel north of Borkum for nearly three hours.
• The patrol ship lacked night-vision or infrared imaging systems, preventing crew from documenting the unmanned aircraft during the midnight operation.
• Belgian customs inspected the cargo vessel at its destination and found no drone components or illicit activity among its 11-member crew.
• Security reports show that between late February and early March almost daily drone flights targeted naval bases, ports and chemical facilities across Germany, with craft up to five meters in wingspan.
• Federal Police and Bundeswehr officials are fast-tracking procurement of advanced counter-drone systems but warn that delivery lead times will delay deployment.