Deutsche Telekom, Germany's leading telecommunications provider, and defense specialist Rheinmetall have unveiled plans for a "defense shield" to counter drone threats and sabotage risks.

The companies detailed their collaboration in a joint press release on Monday, focusing on safeguarding cities and essential infrastructure nationwide. This initiative arrives amid a sharp uptick in unidentified drone sightings across Europe in recent years.

Rheinmetall pointed to escalating "sabotage and drone threats" driven by the prevailing geopolitical climate.

The planned system relies on sensors to spot drones, with capabilities to neutralize them through jamming or interceptor drones.

Laser systems could also be employed to halt drones approaching factories, power plants and other high-value targets.

Surge in Drone Sightings

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office reported over 1,000 suspicious drone flights last year.

BKA President Holger Münch informed German outlets that military installations, airports and ports faced the highest risks.

New laws now authorize the armed forces to down drones in select high-danger scenarios.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger stressed that drone protection demands "integrated sensors, countermeasures and reliable communications."

Deutsche Telekom will leverage its prowess in cloud computing, network connectivity and data processing.

A YouGov poll from last year revealed 69% of respondents anxious about recent drone observations.

Behind the Technology

For the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany, police tasked Deutsche Telekom with identifying and pinpointing unauthorized drones near event sites.

This drew on a sensor network the firm has refined since 2017.

Telekom's setup merges video, acoustic, radio-frequency and radar sensors for comprehensive detection.

Passive radio-frequency scanning, which avoids signal emissions, identifies over 90% of low-altitude drones, according to the company.

Countering Mobile Network Drones

Detection tools must evolve as more drones shift to mobile network control from conventional radio links.

Deutsche Telekom is partnering with Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg - University of the Federal Armed Forces - to tackle this challenge.

The team is investigating if mobile networks can reveal drone operations through atypical data flows.

This work utilizes an Ericsson 5G standalone network on the university grounds.

Rheinmetall Strengthens Hamburg Drone Protections

Rheinmetall is broadening its civilian anti-drone initiatives.

In December 2025, the firm joined Hamburg police and the Port Authority in a key alliance to secure the harbor, where crowded infrastructure and intense radio activity complicate detection.

With its defense products deployed in Ukraine and the Middle East, Rheinmetall pledges bespoke defenses for critical facilities.