On Wednesday, November 11, the German government made a significant announcement regarding its military operations. The decision was taken to cease the use of Chinese-made drones in training exercises, opting instead for drones that are either domestically manufactured in Germany or produced by other European countries.
In a statement from the German Ministry of Defense, officials confirmed that commanders of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, would still be permitted to purchase commercial drones for training and some exercises. However, they emphasized that any use of these drones must undergo a thorough risk assessment, and it is crucial that no sensitive security information is disclosed during their operation.
This decision comes as Western military officials have increasingly expressed concerns over the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made drones, particularly regarding fears that such equipment could be utilized to transmit sensitive information back to Beijing.
In their email announcement, the Defense Ministry declared, “To enhance the autonomy and technological sovereignty of the Bundeswehr, we will no longer be utilizing Chinese-made drones in the future.” Instead, they plan to replace them with drones sourced from Germany or other European nations. This policy shift was first reported by “Der Spiegels” investigative team.
The enforcement of Germany’s drone ban is immediate. However, the Defense Ministry did not disclose the current number of Chinese-made drones that are being used by the Bundeswehr.
A spokesperson clarified that Germany has not implemented a blanket ban on the use of drone systems from specific countries. They added that this decision is based on individual risk assessments aimed at ensuring military security, information technology integrity, and data safety.
In response to this announcement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its opposition to what it deemed a “discriminatory approach” against Chinese products, as reported by Reuters.
According to “Der Spiegel,” the procedure has roots in a strategy established in 2024 which allowed local commanders to procure drones. This strategy included a whitelist of approved systems, featuring several drones manufactured by DJI, the world’s largest drone maker based in China.
Reports indicate that these Chinese-made drones were acquired by some German military units in recent years without effective oversight, and are now being phased out as quickly as possible. However, due to the lack of centralized procurement records from various units, the military has been compelled to implement a comprehensive ban. The Ministry of Defense has yet to comment on this matter.
Last month, the United States also took similar steps, prohibiting the use of vehicles produced by Chinese company BYD at their Air Force base located in Okinawa, Japan. Earlier in February, Poland had likewise banned vehicles made in China from entering military facilities, citing concerns that the sensors in these vehicles could be used for sensitive data collection.
The spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defense reiterated that there is no sweeping ban on vehicles from specific countries or manufacturers, but noted that the sensors installed in modern vehicles are regarded as potential security risks. Therefore, access to sensitive military sites can be restricted as necessary to mitigate these risks.