Germany Opens Joint Drone Defence Centre in Berlin to Boost Security

Germany has opened a Joint Drone Defence Centre in Berlin to improve its ability to identify, assess and respond to drone threats involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The centre was launched on December 17 and brings together federal and state authorities, including police and military bodies, to coordinate responses to drone-related incidents.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the new centre addresses gaps in Germany’s existing drone security approach, where responsibilities for drone detection and counter-drone measures were spread across multiple agencies.

By centralising coordination, authorities aim to act faster and with greater clarity when drones are detected near sensitive locations.

• Germany opens Joint Drone Defence Centre in Berlin to counter rising UAV threats
• New drone defence hub boosts coordination between police, military, and state agencies
• Berlin centre strengthens Germany’s security response to drone and hybrid threats

The centre will operate 24/7 and function as a coordination hub rather than a command authority. Participating agencies will continue to make decisions within their legal mandates, while sharing real-time information, threat assessments, and technical expertise through the joint platform.

German officials have raised concerns over a rise in unexplained drone activity across the country and elsewhere in Europe. Drones have been reported near airports, military facilities, energy infrastructure, and government buildings. Western governments have linked some of these incidents to hostile state activity and hybrid warfare tactics, though Russia has denied involvement.

Across NATO countries, drones have increasingly been used for surveillance, disruption, and testing of air defence systems. In some cases, fighter jets have been deployed to investigate or intercept unidentified aerial objects, highlighting the pressure such incidents place on existing security resources.

The Joint Drone Defence Centre forms part of Germany’s broader effort to adapt its internal security framework to emerging threats. Officials say the initiative reflects lessons learned from recent incidents and from the wider security environment shaped by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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The centre will involve close cooperation between the Interior Ministry, state police forces, the Federal Police, and the Bundeswehr. Authorities say the goal is to ensure quicker assessments, consistent responses, and stronger protection of critical infrastructure, while remaining within Germany’s legal and constitutional limits.