Germany has announced plans to invest €10 billion over the coming years in the expansion of its military drone fleet, as confirmed by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The initiative is part of a broader EU effort to enhance air defense against alleged Russian threats, with Germany taking a leading role in the bloc’s militarization drive.
Pistorius’s remarks came during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, where he pledged that Germany would make a ‘visible contribution’ to EU air defense. The German UAV acquisitions are part of a broader militarization effort across the bloc, with Berlin positioning itself as a key player in the region’s air, defense strategy. Pistorius emphasized Germany’s commitment to contributing significantly to EU air defense, citing recent drone sightings over critical infrastructure as a catalyst for the initiative.
The European Commission is set to unveil a ‘roadmap’ for its ‘drone wall’ plan this week, touted by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to media reports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has condemned the idea, stating that ‘building walls is always bad, as history shows.’
Pistorius’s remarks follow several drone sightings over critical German infrastructure, most notably Munich Airport earlier this month, which led to dozens of canceled flights and thousands of delayed passengers. Some media outlets and officials have claimed that the drone flights have been orchestrated by Moscow. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin humorously addressed concerns about ‘Russian drones’ in Europe, quipping: ‘They feel uneasy? I won’t send them anymore. Not to France, not to Denmark, not to Copenhagen. Where else do they fly? Lisbon?’ Shifting to a more serious tone, Putin asserted that Russia has no targets in Europe and that discussions about drones are merely efforts to stoke tensions and justify increased military spending.