New Center Aims to Advance Drone Defense

Drones can pose a threat to airports and other critical infrastructure—or even be used to carry out attacks. Research into how to better detect and defend against such aircraft is set to begin in Saxony-Anhalt.

Today (10:30 a.m.), the new Drone Security Technology Center is set to open at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) site in Cochstedt in the Salzlandkreis district. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär (CSU), and Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister President Sven Schulze (CDU) are also expected to attend.

The center will be dedicated to researching, developing, and testing new technologies for drone safety under realistic conditions. According to those involved, this facility—in collaboration with the DLR site in Braunschweig—will be the only one of its kind in Germany. The center aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and the practical requirements of security agencies.

Explosive-laden drone illustrates the danger

Just how relevant this issue is was recently demonstrated at Leipzig/Halle Airport. There, a modified drone loaded with explosives was discovered among several Ukrainian cargo planes. According to reports, the drone was controlled in a manner that made it difficult for standard systems to detect it.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office took over the investigation, describing it as a “serious attack on Germany’s transportation and logistics infrastructure.” Following the incident, federal and state interior ministers called for faster progress in establishing drone defense systems.

The chair of the Conference of Interior Ministers, Hamburg’s Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD), spoke of a “new qualitative dimension.” Security authorities must prepare for further similar attacks. Greater speed and closer cooperation between the federal and state governments are necessary.

Part of a broader strategy

The technology center is part of a drone defense strategy that Dobrindt had discussed with the state interior ministers. This includes a federal police drone defense unit that has been operational since December and is expected to grow to 300 personnel in the future.

The second component is a joint federal-state drone defense center where various security agencies and other entities will share information. If necessary, the German Armed Forces will also be involved.

The research in Cochstedt adds a third component. There, technologies for the safe use of drones, as well as for the detection and defense against misused aircraft, will be tested.