Germany Aims to Become Drone Industry Leader, Citing Ukraine Support & Airspace Security Concerns
berlin – German Economy Minister Robert Habeck is calling for a major expansion of Germany’s drone industry, positioning teh nation as a leading hub for progress and production. The push, announced this week, is driven by the need to bolster both Ukraine’s defense capabilities and Germany’s own security, particularly in light of recent airspace violations and ongoing conflict.
“Those who want air sovereignty must build it,” Habeck said, according to reporting by RND. “Germany must become a leading location for the development and production of drones – to support Ukraine, to strengthen our own defense capabilities, and to protect our critical infrastructure.”
The call comes amid heightened concern over unidentified drones repeatedly violating European airspace in recent weeks, leading to temporary airport closures in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Investigations are ongoing,but authorities have not ruled out Russian involvement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on October 5th, as reported by Deutsche Welle, that he believes Russia is responsible for many of the drone sightings over Germany.
The situation in Ukraine, where Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure – including a maternity hospital in Sumy struck by a drone on October 6th – further underscores the urgency, according to Habeck.
“What we need is rapid scaling of production and continuous technological development - especially in the field of artificial intelligence,” Habeck emphasized. He advocates for mobilizing resources through new partnerships between industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and research institutions, stating, “Europe’s security will also be decided in German factories.”
Ukraine has offered to share its wartime drone expertise to assist allies in production. Ukrainian military specialists recently participated in joint counter-drone exercises with Danish forces, beginning September 29th, following the airspace violations.
Habeck highlighted the importance of drones for protecting critical infrastructure within Germany itself, including airports, ports, pipelines, refineries, liquefied natural gas terminals, substations, data centers, and hospitals.
According to a recent report by the Kyiv Autonomous, European leaders believe Russia is behind the mysterious drone sightings, though definitive proof remains elusive. The move to bolster domestic drone production signals a significant shift in Germany’s approach to security and defense within the evolving European landscape.
