Defense contractor Rheinmetall and Deutsche Telekom are partnering to develop a drone defense system for civilian sites. The system will be bolstered by anti-hacking measures, Rheinmetall announced on Monday. 'The threat posed by drones is highly digital,' emphasized Armin Papperger, CEO of the defense group. 'Therefore, defending against them requires a combination of sensor technology, effectors, and secure communication networks.'

The two companies have been collaborating on drone detection and mitigation for some time. Telekom utilizes specialized sensors that can be mounted on mobile phone masts to locate drones via the radio signals from their remote controls. This technology was deployed during the 2024 European Football Championship, among other events. Furthermore, the Bonn-based group is researching methods to track drones controlled via mobile networks. Rheinmetall is also cooperating with the Hamburg police and the local port authority to further develop drone protection in that area.

(Report by Hakan Ersen, edited by Sabine Wollrab. For inquiries, please contact our editorial office at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economics) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).)