German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom and defense firm Rheinmetall said they have developed something they call the “ defense shield against unmanned aerial vehicles and acts of sabotage.
In a joint press release Monday, the companies announced plans to protect cities and critical infrastructure across Germany. This comes at a time when countries across Europe have seen an increase in attacks by unidentified drones in recent years.
Due to the current geopolitical situation, there has been a steady increase in threats from “sabotage and drone activities, Rheinmetall said.
The system will use sensors to detect drone’s and be able to disable them using signal jamming technology or preventive drone’s.
Companies say laser technology could also be used to stop drones near industrial sites, power plants and other sensitive infrastructure.
The number of drone incidents is increasing.
Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office said more than 1,000 suspected drone flights were reported last year.
BKA President Holger Münch told German media that military installations, airports and ports are among the places most affected by the outbreak.
Germany has also passed a law allowing the armed forces to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles in some high-risk situations.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, said drone defense requires a combination of ’ sensors, countermeasures and secure communications systems.
Deutsche Telekom said it would contribute expertise in cloud computing, connectivity and data analytics.
A YouGov survey conducted last year found that respondents ’ was concerned about recent drone sightings.
How does technology work?
During the 2024 European Football Championship in ’, Germany, Deutsche Telekom was tasked by police to detect and localize unauthorized drone flights on the pitches.
The company said this is possible thanks to a network of sensors it has been developing since 2017.
Telecom said its systems used a combination of video, audio, radio frequency and radar sensors to detect drones.
One of the methods uses passive radio frequency sensing, which itself does not emit signals. Telecom, technology low-altitude drone’s %He said he was able to identify more than 90’.
Mobile network controlled droneDetection of ’s
Companies say detection systems need to be adapted as more drones are now controlled via mobile phone networks rather than traditional radio controllers.
Deutsche Telekom, together with Helmut Schmidt University/Hamburg Federal Armed Forces University, is exploring ways to detect such unmanned aerial vehicles.
Researchers are investigating whether mobile networks can help identify drone activity by detecting unusual patterns of data traffic.
The research is based on an independent Ericsson 5G network installed on the university campus.
Rheinmetall expands drone defense work at Hamburg’
Rheinmetall is also expanding its civilian drone defense operations.
December 2025’te Rheinmetall, Hamburg police and Hamburg Port Authority enter into a strategic partnership to help protect the port, where heavy infrastructure and heavy radio traffic can complicate drone detection.
Rheinmetall, whose defense systems are already in use in Ukraine and the Middle East, said it would develop customized solutions for critical infrastructures.
