Germany to Develop Drone Defense System for Cities, Critical Sites

(MENAFN) German defense company Rheinmetall and telecommunications provider Deutsche Telekom announced Monday a joint initiative to develop a drone defense system aimed at safeguarding cities and critical infrastructure.

In a joint statement, the companies said the project will focus on building technologies capable of countering complex threat scenarios, including coordinated drone attacks targeting vital national assets.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said the nature of drone threats is increasingly digital and requires integrated technological responses.

“The threat posed by drones is highly digital,” Papperger said. “This is why effective defense requires a combination of sensors, effectors, and secure communication networks.”

Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hoettges said the project will leverage the company’s telecommunications infrastructure and data systems to strengthen detection and response capabilities.

“With our expertise in connectivity, cloud, and data analytics, we are elevating drone defense to a new level,” he said.

The companies noted that an increasing number of drones are now operated through mobile and cellular networks, making telecommunications systems a key part of both detection and defense.

They also suggested that mobile networks could eventually function as large-scale sensor systems, identifying unusual data patterns that may indicate drone control activity. Such capability, they said, could help authorities detect drones more quickly, identify operators, and respond to threats even in temporary no-fly zones.

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