Purchases will be of “all types and altitudes” and will include defense and attack UAVs, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said
Germany plans to spend €10 billion ($10.8 billion) in the coming years to massively expand its fleet of military drones, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said.
The plan comes amid EU discussions of a “drone wall” – a proposed network of air defense and surveillance systems to counter alleged Russian threats. The German UAV acquisitions are part of a broader militarization drive across the bloc, with Berlin taking a leading role.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, Pistorius pledged that Germany will take a greater role in EU air defense. Recently, several Western officials have accused Russian aircraft and drones of violating EU airspace, labeling the incidents as part of an alleged “hybrid war” by Moscow. The Kremlin has denied the allegations, dismissing them as unfounded and accusing the West of fostering anti-Russia “hysteria.”
Pistorius declared that Germany would make a “visible contribution” and that its drone purchases would encompass “all types and altitudes,” including both defense and attack craft. A ministry spokesperson also confirmed that Germany will deploy two Eurofighter jets to Malbork, Poland, from December to March.
The European Commission is set to unveil a “roadmap” for its “drone wall” plan this week, touted by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to media reports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has condemned the idea, stating that “building walls is always bad, as history shows.”
Pistorius’ remarks follow several drone sightings over critical German infrastructure, most notably Munich Airport earlier this month, which led to dozens of canceled flights and thousands of delayed passengers.
Some media outlets and officials have claimed that the drone flights have been orchestrated by Moscow.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin humorously addressed concerns about “Russian drones” in Europe, quipping: “They feel uneasy? I won’t send them anymore. Not to France, not to Denmark, not to Copenhagen. Where else do they fly? Lisbon?”
Shifting to a more serious tone, Putin asserted that Russia has no targets in Europe and that discussions about drones are merely efforts to stoke tensions and justify increased military spending.
