BERLIN

Germany's federal police commissioned a specialized drone defense unit to counter growing drone threats, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced on Tuesday.

The new unit will start with about 60 officers and expand to 130, with deployment at airports, in the capital, and near security-sensitive sites nationwide to respond rapidly to drone incidents.

"The Federal Police's new drone defense unit will demonstrate how we respond to new hybrid threats: quickly, precisely, and with cutting-edge technology," Dobrindt told the commissioning ceremony. He emphasized that the unit's mission includes detecting, intercepting, and—if necessary—shooting down hostile drones.

According to the Interior Ministry sources, the unit will employ AI-supported jamming systems and automatic interceptor drones of various types. Officers will be trained to respond quickly and efficiently to various drone incidents, using techniques ranging from signal interruption to physical interception with nets.

Germany's parliament approved more than €100 million ($116 million) for 2025 and 2026 to procure drone defense technology from German and Israeli manufacturers, with additional systems planned for coming months.

The government has also initiated reforms to the Air Security Act, granting the federal police and military new legal powers to respond to suspected drone activities. Under these reforms, if police technology proves insufficient against large or advanced drones, the German armed forces will step in through administrative assistance.