Germany opened a research center to develop and evaluate technologies for protecting critical infrastructures from unauthorized drones.
Germany has inaugurated a research center to develop and evaluate technologies for protecting airports, public events, and critical infrastructure from unauthorized drones, Euronews reported.
Located in Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany, the facility is based at the former Cochstedt airport, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Berlin.
It will operate under the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which has used the site for unmanned aircraft research since 2021.
Researchers will use realistic test environments to assess systems capable of locating, identifying, tracking, and countering potentially hostile drones.
The site expands DLR’s existing National Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which supports research by the agency and external partners.
Explosives-Laden Drone Near Airport
The center opened weeks after authorities discovered a drone carrying explosives and a detonator near an Antonov Airlines cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Cochstedt.
Leipzig/Halle is one of Europe’s main air-freight hubs and also handles logistics operations for NATO.
Germany’s federal prosecutor is investigating whether the incident constituted an attack against national security.
Amid rising concerns, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to double the number of positions in the federal police’s counter-drone unit.
Dobrindt described malicious drone activity as an increasing challenge and part of what he called the “shadow war of the 21st century.”
German airports and other sensitive locations already employ drone defense systems.
However, officials said detection and countermeasure technologies must be continually updated as commercial and military drones become faster, more autonomous, and harder to identify.
