German authorities are investigating possible espionage after a series of unidentified drones were spotted over a military base in Schwesing, northern Germany, where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained on the Patriot air defense system.
German news outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that the incidents took place between January 9 and January 29.
According to the report, despite deploying electronic countermeasures, including the HP47 jammer, German forces failed to intercept or locate the drones. German military officials said the drones appeared technologically advanced and were not standard commercial models.
The report also states that internal assessments by the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany, revealed gaps in Germany’s drone defense capabilities, as key detection systems such as the Wingman and RADIS failed to respond effectively. As a result, additional detection and jamming equipment have been deployed to the base.
While German authorities have not confirmed Russian involvement, the Bundeswehr has classified the recent drone activities as a potential espionage operation and alerted intelligence services.
The investigation follows reports of increased drone activity over military installations in Germany. In recent weeks, drones were also spotted over the U.S. airbase in Ramstein, a key NATO logistics hub, prompting discussions in the German government about granting the Bundeswehr authority to shoot down unidentified aerial threats.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser have called for enhanced protection of critical infrastructure, citing the growing use of drones for surveillance and potential sabotage since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
