Between January and March 2025, 536 unidentified reconnaissance drones were detected over Germany, potentially used for monitoring military and critical infrastructure. During this period, 270 incidents involving 536 drones were recorded. In at least 55 cases, two or more drones were spotted simultaneously. Drones appeared mostly at night (45%, 18:00 to 24:00) and in the early morning hours (28%, 0:00 to 6:00). They were less frequently detected during the day: 13% in the morning and 14% in the afternoon. Most observations occurred on Wednesdays (51), Tuesdays (48), and Mondays (42).
(Infographic showing drone incident frequencies across different regions of Germany in Q1 2025. Image source: Bild)
Drones were most commonly spotted around military facilities, with 117 reports registered. Hotspots included the German Navy base in Wilhelmshaven and Ramstein Air Base, where up to 15 drones were spotted at once. Among critical infrastructure, most incidents involved the energy sector, with 88 incidents reported in the first quarter. These flights mainly flew over LNG terminals in Stade, Wilhelmshaven, and Brunsbüttel.
Drones were also observed conducting espionage over civilian airports, ports, and train stations. Additionally, flights occurred over defense companies, state government buildings, and administrative offices.
(Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone)
Prosecutors filed 123 criminal cases in Lower Saxony (52), Schleswig-Holstein (46), Rhineland-Palatinate (31), Bavaria (30), and North Rhine-Westphalia (24). However, ongoing investigations have not proven that these drones originated abroad, though this possibility cannot be ruled out. In eight cases, only 10 drone pilots were identified.
Starting January 2025, Germany proposed allowing the military to shoot down suspicious drones detected near military or critical infrastructure facilities. Current German law permits the military to distract drones, threaten with force, or use warning shots. However, even when drones pose a serious threat, shooting them down remains prohibited.
(Possible flight paths of Russian Orlan-10 drones over Germany. August 2024.)
Russians continue launching Orlan-10 drones, detected over Germany from ships in the North Sea. These drones fly over German territory to collect intelligence before landing in Russia’s Kaliningrad region.