Germany's Bundeswehr bans Chinese drones and cars over espionage fears
Germany's Bundeswehr has banned Chinese small drones and restricted Chinese vehicles at military sites due to espionage concerns.
The German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, has banned the use of all Chinese-made small drones across its barracks and military training grounds following severe security concerns. According to reports citing Der Spiegel, existing equipment, including models produced by commercial manufacturer DJI, will be decommissioned and replaced with German or European alternatives.
In addition to the drone ban, military authorities have introduced restrictions on Chinese-manufactured vehicles entering sensitive military facilities. Officials expressed apprehension that connected technologies embedded in Chinese drones and vehicles could collect critical data—such as training maneuvers, site imagery, and hardware specifications—and transfer it to Chinese intelligence services. A spokesperson for Germany's Ministry of Defence confirmed to Der Spiegel that no Chinese drone models will be utilized by the armed forces moving forward.
Sources: ORF, The Insider, Українська правда