Germany Gives Military Power to Stop Drones

The German parliament recently passed a new rule that lets the army step in when drones fly over the country. The move comes after more and more drone sightings were reported since Russia started fighting Ukraine. A change to the air‑security law was approved with support from both sides of parliament, including conservatives, social democrats and the far‑right AfD. The aim is to make drone defence faster and easier for everyone involved. Since the war began, German airspace has seen a sharp rise in drone activity. Many of these drones are hard to track, and experts think Russia may be behind a large portion of them.Under the new law, the Bundeswehr can act directly when local police ask for help. This could mean jamming signals or, if needed, shooting down a drone that threatens people or property. Previously the army could only intervene under very strict conditions. The defence ministry also gets a new power to launch operations on its own, which should help it react quicker when danger appears. Police across Germany are still the main force against drones, but they often lack the right tools. The federal police have recently gained more authority and a new drone‑defence centre opened in Berlin to support their work. The law also tightens the punishment for flying drones into airport airspace. The penalties now carry up to two years in prison, a change intended to deter climate‑activist protests that have disrupted flights.