Germany has launched a new federal police unit to detect and neutralize drones as authorities respond to a surge in hybrid threats and attacks, Minister of Interior Alexander Dobrindt said on Tuesday.
The unit, part of the federal police’s special operations arm, will be trained and certified for drone detection and interception.
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It is expected to grow to more than 130 officers and will be deployed nationwide, Dobrindt said at a ceremony near Berlin.
“We are creating a clear mission to detect, intercept, and, yes, also shoot down drones, when necessary,” Dobrindt said.
“We cannot accept that hybrid threats, including drones, become a danger to our security.”
Germany has put aside over €100 million for this and the following year for counter-drone technology, including sensors and jammers to disrupt hostile signals and systems capable of intercepting or destroying drones.
Equipment will be sourced from German and Israeli manufacturers, with further purchases planned.
Major airports will also be equipped with detection and defense systems, the interior ministry said.
The move comes as German security agencies report hundreds of suspicious drone flyovers this year near barracks, naval facilities and energy infrastructure.
German lawmakers earlier this year granted police broader authority to shoot down drones, and the government has proposed expanding the military’s role in airspace security.
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