Drone nightmare: Threat to Rhineland-Palatinate from illegal flights!

Drone nightmare: Threat to Rhineland-Palatinate from illegal flights!

The security situation in Rhineland-Palatinate is being strained by an alarming increase in illegal drone sightings over critical infrastructure. By mid-May 2025, 39 drone sightings had already been registered, which represents a clear increase compared to previous years; There were 32 sightings in 2023 and 37 in 2024. Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) discussed this worrying development in Mainz, where he also announced that a suspect with German citizenship had been identified. Nevertheless, in 2024 the police were denied a suspect.

The critical infrastructure in the region includes energy, food, water and transport, healthcare and telecommunications. Ebling warned of potential influence from foreign powers, particularly Russia, which could use hybrid strategies such as espionage, sabotage and cyberattacks to destabilize the security posture. The potential targets highlighted by the Interior Minister are military properties, critical infrastructure and significant commercial enterprises in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Reactions and new measures

In February 2025, the state government responded to the worrying development by amending the Police Act. This gives security forces new powers to detect and, if necessary, bring down suspicious drones. A particularly critical incident occurred at the end of 2024 when illegal drone flights were detected over the strategically important Ramstein Air Base. This US military base acts as a central hub for military operations in Europe and Africa.

The suspicion that these illegal operations indicate Russian espionage was supported by unofficial statements. According to Tagesschau, the flights are viewed as part of hybrid warfare, with the drones apparently trying to spy on military properties and critical infrastructure. Terrorism expert Holger Schmidt said that such spying attempts have increased since Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022 and that the aim of the drone flights is both to provide information about arms movements and to relocate troops.

Technical challenges and political demands

The challenges in combating these illegal drone operations are significant. Ebling pointed out that the state police do not have sufficient resources to effectively combat the increasing threat. Civilian pilots must maintain visual contact with their drones, which is not guaranteed in many cases. Military systems to combat drones also pose risks to the civilian population, making it difficult to implement effective measures.

Security in Rhineland-Palatinate is therefore in jeopardy, and the authorities are faced with the challenge of effectively countering the impending risks posed by illegal drone operations, while at the same time having to protect the population. The online world has exacerbated the situation, and the need for technical solutions to detect and combat drones is becoming more urgent than ever. NTV reports that the state government and police have already taken steps to counter this threat, but it remains to be seen how effective these measures can be.