Germany Forms Rapid Response Unit to Tackle Drone Threats

Germany Establishes Rapid Response Unit to Counter Drone Threats

The German military is forming a rapid response unit to address the growing threat of unauthorized drones in sensitive airspace. Major General Alexander Sollfrank, who oversees the German Joint Operations Command and defense planning, announced this initiative during an interview with Reuters on Friday, November 7th.

Recent incidents across Europe have highlighted the potential disruptions caused by unknown drones infiltrating restricted areas. In Belgium, both airports and military bases have reported frequent drone sightings in recent days. In response to a request from Brussels, the German Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday, November 6th, that it would deploy anti-drone experts to Belgium to assist in mitigating these threats.

According to a statement from the German Ministry of Defense, an advance team from the German Air Force has already arrived in Belgium to assess the situation. They will work closely with Belgian forces to conduct temporary missions, including drone detection and countermeasures. The main contingent of experts is expected to follow shortly.

Some European officials have attributed these drone incidents to Russia's alleged 'hybrid warfare' tactics, though Moscow denies any involvement. Sollfrank declined to provide specific details about the new anti-drone unit for operational security reasons. However, he revealed that during the October EU summit in Copenhagen, a team equipped with various sensors and effectors was deployed to detect and neutralize drones.

'We can take control of the drones and guide them to land at designated locations,' Sollfrank explained. He also mentioned that the anti-drone specialists are equipped with interceptor drones capable of deploying nets to capture enemy drones, as well as other systems designed to physically disable unauthorized aircraft.