After Explosive Drone Found, German Politician Calls for Centralized Drone Defense Authority

Following the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig Airport, a leading CDU politician is demanding a centralized approach to drone defense in Germany. Thomas Röwekamp, the chairman of the Bundestag's defense committee, stated that the incident underscores the urgent need for new responses to the threat posed by drones to civilian infrastructure. He argued that Germany currently has multiple federal aviation security authorities responsible for drone defense, which he believes is inefficient. "We need a central authority instead of a multitude of federal aviation security authorities," Röwekamp told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland. He credited a bus driver's vigilance for preventing a major incident, emphasizing the role of chance and caution in averting disaster. Röwekamp stressed that beyond a centralized command, effective drone defense requires material equipment capable of reliably countering the diverse range of threats. He proposed that the Federal Ministry of the Interior, or the Federal Police, should be the central authority. Currently, the Federal Police are responsible for drone defense at airports, supported by the Joint Drone Defense Center established by the federal and state governments late last year. The German armed forces are expected to intervene only if other institutions are technically overwhelmed. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has taken over the investigation into the Leipzig drone incident, suspecting attempted explosive detonation and dangerous interference with air traffic. The office cited the case's significance in taking it over from the regional prosecutor's office.

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We need a central authority instead of a multitude of federal aviation security authorities.