Germany expands drone research centre after Leipzig airport incident; minister warns of 'arms race'

Published Aug 18, 12:47 PM UTC

Germany has expanded a drone safety research centre at Magdeburg-Cochstedt airport, weeks after a drone carrying explosives was stopped near a Ukrainian Antonov transport plane at Leipzig Airport. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described an ongoing 'arms race' between drone and counter-drone technology, with innovation cycles of 8 to 12 weeks. The centre, located at a former Soviet airport, will receive over €10 million from the German Aerospace Centre and create up to 40 new positions. It forms the research pillar of Germany's three-pillar drone defence strategy, which also includes a mobile anti-drone police unit and a joint federal-state coordination centre. Dobrindt framed the incident as part of a 'shadow war of the twenty-first century' and hybrid attacks targeting Germany.