Illegal drone overflights pose a growing threat to Germany’s national security. This is confirmed by the new expert survey conducted by BDLI, UAV DACH, and Strategy.
Two thirds of respondents reported incidents involving illegal drones, with more than one third (37 percent) stating that these occurred within the past six months. Around 90 percent of experts view espionage attacks against military facilities and critical infrastructure as the greatest threat.
The survey makes clear that existing legal, organizational, and technical frameworks are insufficient. Seventy-five percent of the experts surveyed consider current laws on drone detection and defense to be inadequate. In addition, many participants state that they currently do not operate any drone detection systems within their organizations – citing high costs, lack of expertise, and unclear legal conditions as key reasons. At the same time, experts see enormous potential in new technologies, particularly in the use of artificial intelligence.
Marie-Christine von Hahn, Director General of BDLI, warns:
“It is five past twelve: illegal drone overflights are increasingly threatening our national security and economic stability. This can only mean one thing: we must act now. Politicians, national security authorities, and industry together. We need better coordination of drone defense in Germany so that the wide range of technologies developed by industry can be put into use.”
Dr. Gerald Wissel, Chairman of UAV DACH, also emphasizes the urgency of becoming operational now: “One of the major challenges in defending against illegal drone overflights is the unclear legal situation. Only a very small proportion of the experts surveyed consider the current legal framework for drone detection and defense to be sufficient. Industry needs planning certainty and reliability. Drones are not only a potential threat, but can also be an important tool for protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring safety.”
BDLI and UAV DACH therefore call for a national strategy for drone detection and defense, clearly defined responsibilities, and a reliable legal framework in order to fully realize the potential of these technologies.
The BDLI’s five-point plan for strong and comprehensive drone defense can be found here: https://www.bdli.de/meldungen/5-punkteplan-fuer-eine-starke-und-ganzheitliche-drohnenabwehr
