Germany Empowers Military to Shoot Down Drones in Emergencies
A soldier of the German armed forces demonstrates the use of a handheld drone jammer in Hamburg, Germany.
Photographer: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty ImagesGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet approved legislation that enables the Bundeswehr armed forces to shoot down unidentified drones suspected of spying on military bases, industrial facilities and other critical infrastructure.
The draft amendment to the Aviation Security Act will allow the military to use force against unmanned aerial vehicles if asked by local police, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters Wednesday in Berlin. Authorities previously relied on jamming to disable drones, but certain recent models appear to be resistant to such technology.