The facts concern in particular the site where Airbus Defense and Space manufactures the Eurofighter combat aircraft, in Manching, north of Munich, in southern Germany. On Sunday evening, local police “were informed of a drone flight over the Manching military security zone,” according to the statement.
“The deployed police officers were able to detect up to ten drones flying over the area,” specify the German authorities, who add that “despite intensive searches, in particular by a police helicopter, the person(s) responsible could not be identified” .
There were several overflights
This flyover is only the latest in a series of “drone observations over federal army installations in Manching and Neuburg an der Danube”, another site located a few kilometers away.
Thus on December 16, twice, then on the 18th and 25th, drones were spotted above the Manching military zone “for which a no-fly zone prevails”, indicate the Bavarian authorities. Several active drones were also observed in Neubourg on December 19.
The call for witnesses aims to be able to identify “suspicious people or vehicles” and to collect clues linked to “possible espionage attempts”.
Possible espionage
Without directly accusing Russia, the authorities hypothesize possible espionage “on military installations and arms partners or companies” in “the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine” .
The use of drones for military purposes has increased since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, either as a weapon of war between the two belligerent countries, or as a weapon of espionage within the framework of the ” hybrid war” that the West accuses Moscow of waging.
Already, overflights last summer
Since the summer of 2024, unidentified drone flights have been observed over several sensitive sites in Germany. In August, they affected for several days in a row an industrial zone in Brunsbüttel (in the north) including a shut down nuclear power plant and a liquefied natural gas terminal.
In December, nighttime overflights occurred in western Germany, above the BASF chemist complex in Ludwigshafen, facilities of the Rheinmetall group, one of Europe’s largest arms manufacturers, and the American air base at Ramstein. In these cases too, police investigations were opened.
The New Jersey case
In the United States, reports of drones or unidentified flying devices reported by residents of the New York or New Jersey regions increased in December, worrying public opinion.
American authorities had ruled out any risk to national or public security and brushed aside any suggestion of foreign involvement.
About it: The United States is helpless in the face of mysterious drone overflights
