Russian Drones Test Europe’s Airspace—Germany Launches Emergency Defense Plan

Germany is accelerating anti-drone defenses at its airports as repeated drone incursions—widely suspected by officials to be linked to Russia—disrupt air travel and raise security concerns across the country, Bloomberg reported on December 6.

The Interior Ministry this week launched a specialized counter-drone unit and announced the creation of a Joint Drone Defense Center to coordinate federal police, state authorities, and the Bundeswehr, while fast-tracking new detection systems for the country’s most important airports.

The move follows a sharp rise in drone sightings near German aviation hubs. More than 190 incidents had been reported by the end of October, putting 2025 on track to be a record year. Several German officials, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have said they suspect Russia is behind “most” of the activity, framing it as part of broader hybrid pressure aimed at testing Western infrastructure, according to Bloomberg.

The latest disruption came over Halloween, when Berlin Brandenburg Airport was temporarily shut down after a reported drone sighting, forcing arriving flights to abort landings and divert, stranding hundreds of passengers for hours. Similar incidents earlier in October led to the overnight disruption of flights in Munich, affecting more than 6,000 travelers.

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Opinion

When Russian Drones Enter Europe—By Violating NATO Airspace and by Invitation

Nov 17, 2025 15:18

Authorities say the recent cases differ from past episodes blamed on careless hobbyists. Some sightings involved professional-grade drones with long range and advanced capabilities. Comparable airport shutdowns have also been reported in Brussels, Copenhagen, and Oslo in recent months, suggesting a wider European pattern, Bloomberg wrote.

No drone has collided with an aircraft in Germany, but the financial and security stakes are growing. A 30-minute closure at a major European airport can cost more than $500,000. German officials warn that what was once a nuisance is now increasingly treated as a security threat, with Russian-linked drone activity at the center of concern.

Previously, Czech President Petr Pavel has warned that repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russia should no longer be tolerated, emphasizing that a strong response is needed to deter further provocations, České noviny reported.

Speaking to high school students in Karlovy Vary, Pavel, a former head of NATO's Military Committee, explained that Russia only respects strength and views restraint as weakness.

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