Germany Launches €16 Billion Drone Action Plan for Bundeswehr

Germany Launches €16 Billion Drone Action Plan for Bundeswehr

Image: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eve Daugherty

Germany has announced a €16 billion investment in drone capabilities for the Bundeswehr, with a formal action plan due for release within days.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made the announcement during a visit to troops at the Upjever airbase in Schortens, Friesland district, on Tuesday. “We are launching a drone action plan these days,” Pistorius commented, as per a recent statement by German Media. The investment, to be delivered by the end of the decade, will span the full spectrum of drone operations, covering reconnaissance platforms, offensive systems, and defence against inbound threats.

Pistorius visited the Air Force’s Base Protection Regiment alongside Inspector General of the Bundeswehr General Carsten Breuer. A Rapid Reaction Element (RRE) for counter-drone operations is stationed there. The air force stood up the first such Bundeswehr unit in April 2025, and it has since demonstrated its value in operational deployments and exercises. From July onwards, all Bundeswehr branches will have dedicated drone units at their disposal.

During the visit, Pistorius was shown the systems now fielded by base security personnel. These include compact transmitters small enough to wear on the body, capable of detecting nearby drones and triggering an alarm. Personnel also operate specialised jammers that disrupt drone radio signals, disabling threats remotely. A Bundeswehr spokesperson noted the technology proved effective during the war in Ukraine. Some Upjever personnel have been training on this equipment since last year.

The visit also drew attention to plans to reactivate Upjever airfield, which has not hosted regular flight operations for more than a decade. The proposal is generating local opposition, with housing projects and wind farm developments in the region potentially at risk. Exercises with transport aircraft are already underway this week, and officials have noted such activity could increase further if reactivation proceeds.

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