Airspace security How Rheinmetall Addresses the Hybrid Drone Threat

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Hybrid drone threats are placing new demands on the protection of civilian and critical infrastructure, requiring networked detection, command-and-control and tailored countermeasures.

The skies over Germany are the scene of a hybrid threat. The incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany), in which a drone equipped with the military plastic explosive Semtex was discovered near a cargo aircraft, made it clear that the protection of airspace is an existential task for security authorities and operators of critical infrastructure. Point defence is no longer sufficient; what is needed are networked and cross-system approaches. As a leading international systems house for security and defence, Rheinmetall is ideally positioned to reliably address these challenges both technologically and operationally. We are proven experts in air defence and drone protection. Our counter-drone systems are proving their capabilities in operational use—in Ukraine, in the Arab region and in the protection of critical infrastructure in Germany.

For counter-drone protection at sensitive facilities such as airports, a combination of high-performance sensors and situation-adapted effectors is required. Rheinmetall pursues an approach that combines different physical detection principles. These include 3D radar solutions, radio direction finders as well as acoustic and scalable systems. They passively detect people, vehicles and drones, independently of line of sight. Relevant events are identified with the support of AI and provided in near real time to create a reliable operational picture. These sensors can be combined according to requirements and the situation.

One component is the electro-optical detection and tracking system Skyspotter: it continuously scans the airspace and provides 360-degree coverage. By combining thermal imaging and daylight cameras with AI-based image processing, the system verifies and tracks even the smallest low-flying or radio-silent drones. At airports, Skyspotter has demonstrated its capabilities under real-world conditions. This sensor mix ensures comprehensive airspace surveillance without disrupting flight operations

The core consists of mission-tailored digital command-and-control systems. These combine sensor data in real time and provide the operational command with an up-to-date air situation picture. This makes it possible to identify threats precisely, while also immediately showing when the threat has been neutralised and there are no longer any drones in the air. This helps civilian airports save time and resume operations. To further expand this protection in the civilian sphere, we are taking the next step towards a nationwide counter-drone system together with Telekom. T-Systems infrastructure, particularly mobile communications towers, can be used to install radio direction finding across the country. This makes it possible to detect radio-controlled (radio frequency, RF) drones.

As soon as a threat has been identified, tailored countermeasures must be taken. To combat threats, in the so-called soft-kill domain we primarily rely on targeted jammers (electronic defence methods that block the drone’s radio or GPS signals without physically destroying it) or autonomous ramming drones, known as interceptors, which intercept hostile systems in flight. Under the modular building-block principle, additional effectors can be deployed, including high-energy laser systems. Another example is the Skynex system, which protects critical infrastructure in Ukraine using programmable Ahead ammunition.

Here, differentiation is important: Skyspotter is primarily designed to protect critical infrastructure in peacetime. If the conflict escalates or the threat level rises sharply, the system can be flexibly upgraded with hard-kill capabilities (kinetic defence methods for physically destroying or shooting down the target). Networking with the mobile Skyranger air defence system is generally possible, but is currently not envisaged for the protection of civilian airports.

The deployment of this technology requires a clear legal framework. The incident in Leipzig reignited the debate over responsibilities and powers. The responsibilities are clearly separated: within the framework of national and collective defence, the Bundeswehr is responsible for the military protection of German airspace. Within Germany, public safety and threat prevention are primarily the responsibility of the federal states and federal authorities. The Federal Police plays a central role in protecting borders and airports. While, as part of threat prevention, the Federal Police may initiate sovereign measures such as disrupting radio signals or intercepting drones, the Bundeswehr’s powers to intervene domestically are strictly regulated by the Basic Law and limited to providing administrative assistance. In view of current threats, further harmonisation is required to close security gaps.

As a strategic partner, Rheinmetall stands ready to provide technological support for this process. With our modular “Drone Defence Toolbox”, we offer scalable solutions tailored to the respective legal powers—from passive detection and soft-kill capabilities for authorities to military air defence, which is divided into different layers according to range. As a cross-system technology house, Rheinmetall closes the technological gap, enabling policymakers and authorities to close the legal gap.