Rheinmetall and Deutsche Telekom Join Forces on Drone and Infrastructure Defence

German defence giant Rheinmetall and telecommunications leader Deutsche Telekom have announced a joint initiative to develop drone countermeasures and protection systems for critical infrastructure across Germany.

The partnership, confirmed ahead of a trade show targeting hybrid threats including drone activity and sabotage, risks both companies describe as rapidly escalating.

The collaboration will combine Rheinmetall’s air defence hardware and autonomous systems expertise with Telekom’s connectivity, cloud, and sensor network capabilities. Together, they aim to deliver a multi-threat protection framework covering both cybersecurity and physical perimeter security at critical sites.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said drone threats were “highly digital” and demanded a fusion of sensors, effectors, and secure communications, precisely the combined strengths both companies bring to the partnership.

Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges was direct: “Sovereignty is achieved not only through discussion but through action.”

Telekom has operated in the drone security space since 2017, deploying detection systems at airports and major public events. The company provided illegal drone flight detection for German police during the 2024 European Football Championship. Its sensor suite includes video, audio, radio frequency, Remote ID, and drone radar technologies.

Radio frequency detection currently makes over 90% of low-altitude drones identifiable. Telekom’s RF sensors, mounted passively on cell towers, avoid interference with mobile networks while proving especially effective in urban environments, according to the company.

A forward-looking element of the partnership involves using 5G mobile networks as large-scale radar systems. Telekom is already researching this capability with Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg, detecting drone-related anomalies in network traffic.

Rheinmetall separately secured a strategic partnership with Hamburg Port Authority in December 2025 to advance drone defence in one of Europe’s most complex maritime environments.

Source: Rheinmetall AG press release

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