Germany opens new drone research centre as security threats mount
The center will test detection and defense systems as Germany reports nearly 1,000 suspicious drone flights over critical infrastructure last year, police said.
- On Tuesday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt inaugurated a new drone research center in Hecklingen to combat the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles over critical infrastructure.
- The facility's launch follows a security breach earlier this month at Leipzig Airport, where an explosives-laden drone was discovered near Ukrainian transport aircraft awaiting transport.
- Dobrindt described the incident as a 'hybrid' attack by a 'foreign power', adding that the center will focus on detecting and identifying unmanned aerial vehicles. Quotes are attributed and exact from source.
- Daniel Niesler of the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit urged officials to prioritize detection, stating, 'Before taking defensive measures, there are detection measures. And currently, they are not in place.'
- Police reported nearly 1,000 suspicious drone sightings over critical infrastructure across Germany last year, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced detection and defensive capabilities.
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The incident at Leipzig Airport revealed gaps in the German drone defense. Now a new research center is supposed to improve safety. Is that enough?
Radio France Internationale
Germany opens new drone research centre as security threats mount
The inauguration of the site, at a Soviet-era airfield in the former East Germany, comes less than two weeks after an explosives-laden drone was found at Leipzig airport, a key logistics hub for weapons sent to Ukraine. Drone sightings have multiplied over other key sites, from military bases to airports, with suspicion often falling on Russia due to Germany's long-running support for Ukraine in its fight against Moscow. Russia has consistently…
Small, cheap, hard to stop: Explosion drones are the latest threat to Russia's hybrid war. German developers are researching new defense technology. But the attackers are usually a step further.
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