Germany Moves to Authorize Police to Shoot Down Drones

Across Europe, lawmakers are moving quickly to adapt to a new era of aerial security. As drones become more frequently misused, governments are rewriting the rules to protect airports, infrastructure, and public events. Germany is the latest country to act, proposing a law that would give its federal police explicit powers to shoot down or disable dangerous drones.

Earlier this month, the German cabinet approved a draft law allowing police to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that pose an immediate threat to safety or national security. The proposal follows a surge in drone activity over sensitive sites, including multiple disruptions at Munich Airport, where unauthorized drones forced flight cancellations and ground delays.

According to Germany’s air navigation authority, 172 drone-related incidents were recorded by September 2025, a sharp rise from 129 during the same period last year.

Under the planned legislation, smaller, low-flying drones would fall under police responsibility, while larger or more complex aerial threats would remain under military control. The law also permits non-lethal countermeasures, such as radio jamming or laser-based disruption, to safely disable drones without causing debris or collateral damage.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the measure as a necessary response to “hybrid threats,” pointing to growing concerns that some incursions may be linked to foreign actors. The bill now awaits parliamentary approval.

Across the continent, similar updates to counter-drone laws have appeared in the UK, France, and Lithuania, reflecting a common challenge: how to neutralize rogue drones effectively while ensuring public safety in urban areas.

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