The Bundeswehr should play a bigger role in defending against drones

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the increase in drone sightings "a threat to our security." So why can't Germany's military have greater power in fending them off?

Last weekend, I stood on a wharf in Warnemünde, a beloved Baltic Sea district, gazing up at a surprisingly serene sky. A storm had been forecast, but only colourful kites and a few brave swimmers were visible.

“We’re lucky there hasn’t been any rain so far,” I told my husband.
“And we haven’t seen a single drone either,” he added with a half-joking tone of relief.

Drones have been on the minds of many people in Germany lately, as reports of suspicious sightings continue to rise. In the north, where we were, they’ve been detected hovering over shipyards, military sites, and government facilities with restricted airspace, as well as along the Danish border. They even led to a few airport shutdowns after sightings above the Berlin and Munich Flughäfen.

While drones have been flown over Germany for more than a decade — often by hobbyists with a knack for aerial photography — these recent ones follow a different, more dubious pattern. They fly over critical infrastructure, appear to be military-grade models built for long distances, and often pass nearby Bundeswehr airbases vital to NATO logistics and Baltic Sea routes.

In a recent interview with German broadcaster ARD, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Russia is suspected to be behind most of the flights. “We know that Putin wants to test us,” he said.

On social media, Merz deemed the drones “a serious threat to our security”, but with a note of reassurance added that there have been no reports of armed drones. Rather, the ominous objects are aimed at surveillance or sowing unease — much like in the case of my well-meaning husband, who for a moment questioned my choice of northern Germany as a holiday destination (and not just because of the unpredictable October weather and pungent seafood).

A wharf in Warnemünde at sunset on October 3rd. We made it through the day without storms (or drone sightings). Photo: Rachel Stern

How should the threat be dealt with?

While many Germans find these sightings worrying, opinions differ on how the country should be allowed to respond.