Security forces recorded six flights by suspected drones over the Bundeswehr logistics base at Mechernich in North Rhine-Westphalia on the night of August 7, including one that circled police officers positioned on the ground, according to a confidential police report. The unmanned aircraft were preliminarily identified as Fly-380 VTOL models, capable of carrying payloads exceeding 10 kilograms over distances of up to 400 kilometres.
The base, a key logistics hub housing specialists who maintain U.S. Patriot air defence systems, handed the case to Euskirchen police, who opened an investigation.
The sightings came after an explosive-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport on August 5. The federal prosecutor's office has taken over the Leipzig investigation, with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt declining to rule out foreign state involvement in what authorities are investigating as a suspected sabotage attempt possibly linked to Moscow.