Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently admitted, “We are really behind when it comes to rescue against drones,” the Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently admitted. Russian drones have been unwanted high after the airspace of several NATO countries in recent weeks. Suspected Russian drones have also been seen on Germany. On the German television channel ZDF, Pistorius assured the audience that everything was “to make for this deficiency”.
Why is Germany so badly equipped to defend itself against drones? One reason for this is to do it with the equipment required to protect against drones. Poland recently shot a drone coming with Poland, which was recently done, but the populated area is so expensive and dangerous.
This taste is more suitable for Rheinmetall’s skiranger anti-aercraft tank, which can be deployed quickly and can compete with a flock of drones. Bundesvehar of the armed forces of Germany has ordered 19 of these, which will not be distributed until 2027. However, military experts estimate that the demand is quite high.
Its predecessor, the pard anti-aercraft tank, which was given to the Ukrainian armed forces years ago by Bundesvehar. This has proved to be extremely effective in repeating Russian drone attacks.
In addition to jammers, drones are for effective means of defense against drone. Bundesvehar has recently acquired the German-made interceptor drone that holds the enemy’s drone with the net.
The European Council on Foreign Relations reported, “We need to develop a multilevel defense system, which offers various options to find below shooting or dislike-electronic counselor, kinetic device, and then low-technical solutions as a net launcher.”
Cooperation between army and police
Another challenge that faces Germany is to do with the distribution of responsibilities in defense against drones. Currently, the responsibility of combating the dangers of drone is divided between police forces of Bundesvehar and 16 federal states of Germany.
Defending against external attacks, within the army remit, if found as fighter jets or large drones. If drones appear on military sites, Bundesvehar is authorized to take action.
In all other cases, drone is the responsibility of defense policy, which are responsible for internal security. If a drone is spying on a German airport or industrial facility, for example, Bundesvehar cannot be called.
Although the police have a means of defending the drone, they are getting the challenge facing them at the place where the drone has been seen quickly. Security experts feel that it is unrealistic to install a broad “drone defense shield” on Germany.
First match drone to be purchased
The separation of military and policy duties has evolved over time and lies in the Constitution. Given the current danger, Bundesvehar now wants more powers to be given more powers to rescue against drone. Internal Minister Alexander Dobrid planned to allow the army to assist the police, for example, by shooting below. The Air Safety Act is to be amended accordingly. Therefore, Dobrid is proposing to build a new drone defense center to coordinate the work of federal and state governments.
Bundesvehar is not only for its efforts in drone defense, but also to divide itself with drones. Recently, the highest ranked German soldiers, the greatest ranked Inspector General Carston Breaur announced that they would conduct their first live-fire exercises with armed drones at the end of the year.
In March, it was decided to purchase the so -called Kamikes drone for soldiers. These are aircraft that are equipped with warheads that explode on killing their goals. For Germany, this is something new.
Learn from Ukraine
It is no longer possible that the wage was with drones – it quickly became clear in Ukraine immediately after the Russian invasion in February 2022. Hundreds of thousands of drones are being deployed there. On the lines of the front, small cousins loaded with explosives are destroying expensive military equipment. The widespread use of reconnaissance drones means that no enemy agitates. This “transparent battlefield” has changed the nature of the war.
Drone experts Ulrik Franke recommends after the example of Ukraine: “It is exactly that NATO countries need to see Ukraine and learn from Ukraine when it comes to the ability to erupt, build and modify the drone quickly,” he told DW.
Bundesvehar should now coordinate with these development. Due to political concerns, it avoids purchase of drones for a long time. Critics feared that unmanned, distant -controlled aircraft could reduce the threshold for the use of military force. There is a lot of doubt about the autonomous functions of many drones.
This was not the war unilateral in Ukraine that has changed. In 2022, the German government decided to divide Bundesvehar drones for the first time. It ordered the missiles directed for five Heron TP drones, which are aircraft -shaped drones manufactured in Israel. Till then, Bundesvehar had only used precious reconnaissance drones.
It took time till the beginning of this year to decide to buy Kamikes drones. For the Ministry of Defense, it marked “the beginning of a new era for the German armed forces”. Small disposable drones are known as “lootering ammunition”. It refers to the drone circle above the target before diving down and exploding below.
There are very practical reasons in the classification of Kamikes Drone as “ammunition”: ammunition is removed and hence it is consumed. On the other hand, a large drone is considered for unmanned aerial vehicles. Regarding flight safety and authentication of personnel, the aircraft are subject to much more technical requirements, ignoring them.
Rapid innovation and weapon purchase
The German armed forces have already started conducting training against drone and training on defense. It is now considered on the “Eveman-Skill” that every soldier should be. A specific number of drones are being purchased for this purpose and for immediate requirements.
What is more, Bundesvehar is eager to avoid having thousands of drones in storage. Technology in this region is moving so fast that the normal approach to the purchase of weapons – long -term lead time, for prolonged use – will be reverse. Therefore, the new contractual agreement is happening with manufacturers to ensure that they can disburse quickly when the latest standard models are required.
German AI Start-ups are now the first choice. Among them is Helizing, a Munich-based company established in 2021, already produced several thousand fighter drones for Ukraine.
This article was original in German.
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