Germany backs plan allowing military to down suspect drones – DW – 01/15/2025
www.dw.com
The German government green lit a proposal that would allow the military to shoot down drones flying over critical infrastucture.

Summary

Germany’s government approved a proposal allowing the military to shoot down drones over critical infrastructure as a last resort.

The move responds to rising sightings of suspicious drones, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with concerns over espionage and sabotage.

Recent incidents include up to 10 drones spotted over Bavaria’s Manching air base, raising security fears.

Previously, the military could only force drones to land, redirect, or issue warnings.

  • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    7 hours ago

    The vehicle also has a landing compartment that can accommodate up to six fully equipped infantrymen. However, as the publication notes, the name “command support vehicle” may indicate that these combat vehicles will not be used as an infantry fighting vehicle, but can be used to protect the RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers from drones.

    Given that the RCH 155 is a self-propelled artillery that can shoot and manoeuvre like a tank, just in 155mm, and Skyshield turrets don’t mind shooting horizontally either, no you don’t want to get close to an angry bunch of them.

    The Heeresflugabwehrtruppe won’t be reconstituted before 2028 that’s when those new Skyshield-based systems will arrive in series, from what I understand anything before that will go to Ukraine. If you’re not putting infantry into those bellies I guess they could carry munitions for the RCH 155s? Those want to shoot and scoot you gotta keep up and even loading and unloading troops will only slow them down. Having a system that does air defence, ground defence against everything that’s not heavily armored (and even that if there’s a manpad launcher somewhere), and also cargo does sound sensible, it can flexibly support artillery, infantry, logistics, everything.

    Oh. Drone operators. You can taxi those around there’s no place in the RCH 155s.