Germany is opening a new drone security research center in Saxony-Anhalt on Tuesday, a move that takes on added urgency following the recent discovery of an explosive-laden drone near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig airport.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, Research Minister Dorothee Bär and Saxony-Anhalt state premier Sven Schulze are scheduled to officially open the facility at the German Aerospace Center in Cochstedt. The center will develop and test counter-drone technologies under realistic conditions.
The opening comes two weeks after a modified drone carrying explosives was found among Ukrainian freight planes at Leipzig/Halle airport, an incident federal prosecutors described as a serious attack on Germany's transport and logistics infrastructure. The federal police drone defense unit, operational since December, is expected to grow to 300 officers as authorities strengthen aerial security capabilities.