The German federal government has approved a controversial measure that would allow police forces to shoot down unmanned drones in cases where they pose a clear danger to airspace or public safety.

The decision — backed by cabinet agreement on Wednesday and pending parliamentary approval — represents a major shift in how the country intends to counter drone incursions.

Although the draft law is not yet in force, it would explicitly permit the use of firearms, lasers, signal jamming, or other technical means to incapacitate drones that violate German airspace and pose acute risks. Authorities argue that the move is necessary to catch up with evolving threats — especially following recent disruptions at Munich Airport linked to suspected drone activity.

Airspace Disruptions Trigger Urgent Response

The push to give law enforcement drone-takedown powers comes amid mounting pressure after a series of drone sightings forced the temporary shutdown of Munich Airport. More than 10,000 passengers were affected as flights were canceled or diverted.  In light of those events, regional and national leaders have called for more decisive tools to protect critical infrastructure.

Bavaria’s premier, Markus Söder, has been especially vocal. “Our police must get the power to shoot drones down,” he posted on social media following the airport disruption. Meanwhile, the interior ministry has indicated it intends to propose complementary rules to allow the armed forces to assist police in extreme scenarios.

Key Elements of the Proposal

Under the draft legislation, police could neutralize a drone when other options — such as disabling control links — are deemed insufficient or impractical. The law emphasizes that such measures should be used only in cases of “acute danger or serious harm.”

Authorities will also have access to a broader toolkit, including laser systems and signal-jamming technologies, to disrupt drone navigation and communications.

Germany is not alone in this approach: other EU states such as the United Kingdom, France, Lithuania and Romania already grant some version of shoot-down powers to police or military forces.

According to air traffic control data from Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), there were 172 drone-related disruptions in Germany between January and September 2025 — up from 129 in the same period last year and 121 in all of 2023.

Challenges and Legal Hurdles

Despite strong political backing, the proposal faces significant debate over safety, legal constraints, and proportionality. Shooting down a drone in a densely populated urban area carries obvious risks to bystanders and infrastructure.

Critics warn that lethal or forceful action against drones should remain a last resort. They contend that more benign countermeasures — such as jamming, signal interception, capture nets or compelling drones to land — should be fully explored first.

Moreover, the bill must navigate Germany’s strict legal and constitutional safeguards, including limits on state use of force and protections for civil liberties. Some opposition lawmakers have already questioned whether the proposal gives police an overly broad mandate.

The Bundeswehr (German armed forces) is expected to play a supporting role under the new framework, but only under clearly defined conditions. Past versions of the German Aviation Security Act allowed military involvement only around military sites or in exceptional circumstances. One complicating factor is that civilian airports and densely populated regions often lack robust drone detection systems, making rapid threat identification and response complex.

Strategic Context: Hybrid Tactics and Escalating Drone Threats

German officials, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have pointed to a pattern of increased drone incursions across Europe. He and others have linked some of these flights to hybrid warfare tactics, particularly by Russia.

Though no armed drones have been confirmed, intelligence and security sources believe many recent flights have been deployed for reconnaissance or disruption. In response, the European Commission has floated the idea of a continental “drone wall” — a coordinated sensor and response network to protect airspace across EU member states.

Germany’s move is part of a broader trend: several nations have already passed or proposed laws giving authorities expanded powers to counter unmanned threats.

What Next?

Before becoming law, the draft must be debated and passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat. The passage is not assured, given strong objections on civil and legal grounds.

If enacted, this legislation would mark one of the toughest national stances in Europe against rogue drones, setting a precedent in balancing security needs with constraints of law and public safety.

For now, the spotlight remains on Bundestag deliberations, as Germany seeks to reinforce its sovereignty over its skies without overstepping constitutional limits — a delicate balancing act in an era of intensifying aerial threats.