Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced an increase in staffing to 300 and the expansion of operational bases from four to eight, calling last week's event a 'hybrid attack scenario.'
The German government has decided to significantly strengthen its federal police counter-drone unit, it was announced on Monday, August 10, 2026. The decision comes just days after a drone with explosives was found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at the strategically important Leipzig-Halle airport.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt plans to double the number of members of this specialized unit, from the current 150 to a total of 300. In addition to the increase in personnel, the number of operational bases will rise from four to eight across the country, a ministry spokesperson confirmed at a press conference in Berlin.
Dobrindt described last week's incident at the airport in eastern Germany as a "hybrid attack scenario," suggesting potential involvement of a "foreign power." According to unofficial information from the weekly newspaper Die Zeit, citing security camera footage, the drone bounced off the wing of an Antonov aircraft several hours before it was discovered by an airport employee around midnight. The reason why the explosive did not detonate remains unclear.
Leipzig-Halle airport plays a crucial role in transporting military equipment for the German armed forces and NATO allies, and also serves as a base for Ukrainian Antonov Airlines. Germany is one of Ukraine's largest military supporters.
German authorities and other European countries have repeatedly noted drones flying over sensitive locations such as airports, military bases, and industrial facilities, suspecting Russia is behind many of these incidents as part of a campaign of sabotage, espionage, and disinformation. Moscow denies any involvement.
The Russian embassy dismissed the Leipzig incident as a "staged provocation" that, they stated, "serves only the interests of Kyiv and the militaristic wing of the European political establishment."
As part of strengthening capabilities to respond to the growing threat, Minister Dobrindt will formally open a new research center for drone technology at the German Aerospace Center next week. This move underscores the seriousness with which Berlin approaches vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure and military logistics hubs in the era of modern asymmetric warfare.
