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German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom and defence firm Rheinmetall said they are developing what they called a “defence shield” against drones and acts of sabotage.
In a joint press release on Monday, the companies announced plans to protect cities and critical infrastructure across Germany. This comes at a time when countries across Europe have seen a surge in incursions by unidentified drones in recent years.
Rheinmetall said there had been a steady increase in “threats from sabotage and drone activity” because of the current geopolitical situation.
The system would use sensors to detect drones and could disable them using jamming technology or interceptor drones.
The companies say laser technology could also be used to stop drones near industrial sites, power stations and other sensitive infrastructure.
Rising number of drone incidents
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office says more than 1,000 suspicious drone flights were reported last year.
BKA President Holger Münch told German media that military sites, airports and ports were among the most affected locations.
Germany has also passed legislation allowing the armed forces to shoot down drones in some high-risk situations.
Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger said drone defence required “a combination of sensors, countermeasures and secure communication systems”.
Deutsche Telekom said it would contribute expertise in cloud computing, connectivity and data analysis.
A YouGov survey last year found that 69% of respondents were concerned about recent drone sightings.
How the technology works
During the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany, Deutsche Telekom was commissioned by police to detect and localise unauthorised drone flights over venues.
The company said this was made possible by a sensor network it has been developing since 2017.
Telekom said its systems use a combination of video, audio, radio-frequency and radar sensors to detect drones.
One method uses passive radio-frequency detection, which does not emit signals itself. Telekom said the technology could detect more than 90% of drones operating at low altitude.
Detecting mobile network-controlled drones
The companies say detection systems now need to adapt because more drones are being controlled via mobile phone networks rather than traditional radio controllers.
Together with Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Deutsche Telekom is researching ways to detect such drones.
Researchers are studying whether mobile networks themselves can help identify drone activity by detecting unusual data traffic patterns.
The research is based on an Ericsson 5G standalone network installed on the university campus.
Rheinmetall expands drone defence work in Hamburg
Rheinmetall is also expanding its civilian drone defence operations.
In December 2025, Rheinmetall, Hamburg police and the Hamburg Port Authority entered into a strategic partnership to help protect the port, where dense infrastructure and heavy radio traffic can make drone detection more difficult.
Rheinmetall, whose defence systems are already in use in Ukraine and the Middle East, said it would develop customised solutions for critical infrastructure.