Germany will establish a dedicated drone security research facility on 18 August at the German Aerospace Center test airport in Cochstedt, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Research Minister Dorothee Bär announced, responding to gaps exposed when an explosive-laden drone was found near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport.
Dobrindt described the incident as a "hybrid attack" by foreign powers, saying Germany faces daily hybrid warfare despite not being at war. U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal and CNN they assessed Russian intelligence was behind the drone, though Russia denied responsibility.
The federal prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the breach, which revealed that Leipzig/Halle lacked fixed drone detection systems. While Dobrindt argued the drone technology arms race demands dedicated research, terrorism expert Peter Neumann warned Germany remains insufficiently prepared for such threats.