In recent weeks, German authorities have reported a string of unidentified drone flights over sensitive sites stretching from the Baltic coast to Bavaria.
The incidents, described by security officials as “unprecedented in scope,” have prompted investigations into whether critical infrastructure and defense industries are being deliberately targeted.
From ship to shore: Incidents in northern Germany
In northern states, police confirmed drone activity over shipyards, power plants and government buildings.
According to security sources, one particularly complex incident involved a large fixed-wing drone releasing smaller quadcopters, which then flew coordinated routes over naval facilities, a university hospital, and energy infrastructure near the Kiel Canal.
Investigators suspect that some of the flights may have originated from a vessel in the Baltic Sea operating under a foreign flag.
Along the ship’s route, additional sightings were later reported in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, raising fears of systematic aerial surveillance.
Defense industry and infrastructure in focus
Authorities believe the drones were not random hobby flights.
Targets included shipyards linked to submarine production for NATO partners, refineries supplying aviation fuel, and military bases in northern Germany.
Flight patterns suggested attempts to map or measure specific sites, according to officials familiar with the investigations.
In southern Germany, companies in the defense and aerospace sector also reported overflights.
Executives at major arms manufacturers, including Airbus Defence, confirmed drones circling their facilities for hours without interception.
The incidents highlight the challenge of neutralizing unmanned aerial vehicles near sensitive industrial sites.
Germany not alone: wider European dimension
The German reports follow similar drone intrusions elsewhere in northern Europe. Poland has recorded repeated violations of its airspace, with drones crossing deep into national territory.
In Denmark, airports were temporarily shut down after surveillance flights forced emergency measures. Danish officials described the incidents as the most serious violation of their airspace since the Second World War.
Ahead of the EU summit in Copenhagen, both Denmark and Germany increased security. Berlin deployed a naval vessel and a drone-defense unit to support allied efforts in the region.
Officials cautious, public kept in the dark
German federal and state governments have so far remained publicly restrained. Interior ministries confirmed drone sightings and ongoing investigations but avoided releasing detailed information.
Insiders in Berlin nevertheless describe the situation as serious and concerning, though authorities say they aim to avoid unnecessary alarm among the population.
Security outlook: billions needed for drone defense
Experts warn that Germany’s ports, energy hubs and defense sites remain vulnerable without a coordinated system of drone defense.
The Bundeswehr has highlighted the need for investments in heavy-lift cranes, emergency power systems and counter-drone measures at seaports crucial for NATO troop movements.
Until such measures are in place, the mystery drone flights remain a wake-up call for Germany and its allies.
