Germany's military bans Chinese drones from bases and training sites
Why it matters: Berlin is pulling systems including DJI models from service over fears they could expose sensitive military data.
Germany's armed forces have barred commercially available Chinese-made drones from barracks and training grounds with immediate effect over security concerns, according to Der Spiegel and other reports. The policy applies across the Bundeswehr and is accelerating the withdrawal of small Chinese drones already in use, including models from DJI. The concern is that onboard electronics could capture images, locations and other sensitive details from military sites and transmit them externally. The reports said local commanders had been allowed to buy some systems under a 2024 procurement approach with limited central oversight, leaving no complete military-wide record of purchases.