Rheinmetall and Deutsche Telekom to develop defense shield against drone threat in Germany

The arms manufacturer Rheinmetall justified this Monday this agreement with the operator Deutsche Telekom by the increase in “hybrid threats related to sabotage and drone activity.”

The arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and the operator Deutsche Telekom announced on Monday, May 11, that they intend to jointly develop a “defense shield” against drones and acts of sabotage targeting cities and critical infrastructure in Germany, in a context of increased threats attributed in particular to Russia.

Germany and other European countries have been faced in recent years with a proliferation of unidentified drone flyovers, sometimes over sensitive infrastructures such as military installations, power plants, ports, and airports.

“The current geopolitical situation has highlighted the increased protection of critical infrastructure” and has led to an increase in “hybrid threats related to sabotage and drone activity,” explains Rheinmetall in a statement.

The highly digital threat posed by drones

The two groups intend to develop technologies capable of countering a wide range of attacks against these sensitive sites, in a so-called “multi-threat” approach, including cybersecurity and physical protection of installations. The precise terms of the cooperation remain vague for now.

“The threat posed by drones is highly digital. Therefore, effective defense requires a combination of sensors, effectors, and secure communication networks,” explained Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, in the statement.

The defense group, active in short-range systems used notably in Ukraine and the Middle East, has already concluded a partnership with the authorities of Hamburg for anti-drone protection of the port of the Hanseatic city by 2025.

For his part, Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, asserts that the operator intends to “elevate anti-drone defense to a new level” thanks to its expertise in connectivity, cloud, and data analysis. Since 2017, Deutsche Telekom has been working with authorities on anti-drone security and has notably detected illegal flights during Euro 2024.

Context: Rheinmetall and Deutsche Telekom are collaborating to develop a defense system against drones and sabotage in Germany, amid increasing threats attributed to Russia.

Fact Check: Deutsche Telekom has been involved in anti-drone security since 2017 and has experience in detecting illegal flights during major events like Euro 2024.