5-point plan for strong and comprehensive drone defence

Berlin, 16. September 2025: The recent incidents involving drones flying over industrial facilities, critical infrastructure, military properties and, last but not least, the intrusion of Russian drones into Polish and Romanian airspace show how serious the drone threat is for Germany and Europe. In this tense situation, there is a lack of cost-effective defence systems for national and alliance defence that are capable of coping with large numbers of drones. At the same time, bureaucratic complexity and unclear responsibilities are 
preventing us from protecting our infrastructure in a reliable, effective and legally compliant manner. We can only meet these challenges by working closely together with industry, government and authorities. The BDLI, therefore, calls for: 

1. The establishment of a national “drone defence” task force involving all relevant departments and industry. This task force should identify the most pressing problems in the detection and defence against drones from a holistic perspective and ensure cooperation between all relevant government and industrial institutions.
2. A national programme that focuses on the short-term development and procurement of costeffective defence systems for the German Armed Forces. Our industry has gained extensive experience in supporting Ukraine, which we must now put to good use. In view of the highly dynamic threat situation, new procurement procedures, as announced in the coalition agreement, should be used.
3. The targeted strengthening of partnerships with our European neighbours. In the medium term, effective national and alliance defence can only be achieved in cooperation with European  partners. The Federal Government should make a conscious effort to find joint solutions and further strengthen interoperability between the armed forces. Industry can actively support the establishment of these partnerships.
4. Equipment and training for security authorities to detect and defend against drones. In times of peace, civil institutions are responsible for protecting the population. That is (and remains) true, but the authorities need the appropriate equipment and skills to be able to counter the complex threat posed by drones. Our industry portfolio also includes solutions that are specifically tailored to the special requirements of civil security authorities.
5. Confidence in defending against unauthorised drone flights. Unresolved issues of jurisdiction and legal questions are hindering the effective prevention of unauthorised drone flights. The industry stands ready to use its expertise to support the development of technically feasible regulations.

Marie-Christine von Hahn, Chief Executive of the BDLI, explains the five-point plan for strong and comprehensive drone defence:

“To ensure Germany’s defence capability, we need a joint effort that combines the activities of political decision-makers, security authorities and industry. We are prepared to do our part in this partnership so that we can live in peace, freedom and security in Germany and Europe” 

The 5-point plan for strong and comprehensive drone defence was developed in collaboration with UAV Dach e.V.