Record number of drones spotted over Germany: What could be at risk
Illustrative photo: Germany reported unidentified drones over military sites (Getty Images)
Germany has recorded a record level of activity by unidentified drones over military sites in the past month, according to Reuters.
In October, Germany recorded a record number of drone sightings over Bundeswehr military sites. While drones previously mostly monitored army and air bases, naval facilities have now become the primary target.
"The Bundeswehr (armed forces) has critical infrastructure. At the moment, it is mainly the navy which is affected (by drone sightings) among the branches of the military," Torsten Akmann, vice president of Germany's military intelligence service BAMAD, told Reuters in a public statement.
Germany has the largest naval fleet among Western allies in the Baltic region, alongside Russia’s Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad.
Baltic Sea as a risk center
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic Sea region has gained strategic importance for Western defense. The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, along with the proximity of Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, has increased the need to protect maritime communications.
A key base is Wilhelmshaven, which services ships and manages operations in the North and Baltic Seas. The Baltic Sea is critically important for NATO, as it could become the only supply route to the Baltic states in a crisis.
Germany and NATO’s response
The rise in drone activity near naval facilities has prompted enhanced monitoring and updated security protocols. In 2024, a multinational naval headquarters was opened to coordinate NATO operations in the region.
Recently, a Russian submarine surfaced near the French coast. In response, NATO stated its readiness to defend, and in January 2025, the UK spotted a Russian reconnaissance ship in the English Channel.
Earlier reports also noted that Finland proposed to NATO the establishment of a base for deploying surveillance drones.
