Between January and March 2025, 536 non-identified drones about Germany were discovered-especially near military facilities and critical infrastructure such as LNG terminals and civil airports.
Most of the sightings took place at night, especially between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., with a special focus on regions such as the Wilhelmshaven naval base and the Ramstein Air Force base, where up to 15 drones were observed at the same time.
German authorities have initiated 123 criminal investigations in five federal states, including Lower Saxony and Bavaria. Even if it is not proven that the drones from abroad have been controlled, this option cannot be excluded. In a few cases, the operators of the drones could be identified.
The current legal situation allows the military to redirect suspicious drones or to hand over warning shots, but the shooting of these aircraft is still prohibited – even if they represent a serious danger.
It is believed that the drones used are the Russian Model Orlan-10, which is launched from ships in the North Sea, to carry out educational missions over German territory, collect information and then return to the Kaliningrad region in Russia.
In response to this in early 2025, Germany proposed to give the military the authority to shoot suspicious drones near sensitive systems in order to strengthen national security in view of these threats.
Those: Militarnyi | Photo: Freepik – Arthurhidden | This content was created with the help of AI and checked by the editors
🇩🇪 536 spy drones were detected over Germany between January and March this year, — Bild
✈️ Among the objects of surveillance are military bases, the energy sector, critical infrastructure. Up to 15 drones were seen over Ramstein air base. pic.twitter.com/NBZhPYY4Xa
– max 25 🇺🇦👀 (@maks_nafo_fella) August 8, 2025
