The Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, Gen. Carsten Breuer, has called on the Bundeswehr to be equipped with new weapons systems to combat drones as soon as possible, DPA reports, BTA reports.
“One thing is clear to me: eventually we will have to use drones against drones“, said Gen. Breuer. According to him, given the number of drones that Russia is using against Ukraine, effective defense is only possible through a combination of different capabilities.
The general expects progress in the coming months and indicated a timeframe for the introduction of kamikaze drones that can attack targets in large numbers or even search for them independently with the help of artificial intelligence.
However, Breuer warned that it would be a "mistake" to ignore other threats. "We should not focus solely on drones. As important as the development of drones is for our defense capabilities, we also face threats from cruise missiles and aircraft," he added.
The increased violations of airspace by Russia in the past two weeks have caused concern among NATO allies. Breuer described the recent incursion into Polish airspace as an unprecedented violation.
“Whether it was intentional or accidental, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be watching our reaction closely. With this violation, he tested us as an alliance,“ the senior general said.
He expressed confidence that NATO had passed the test with unity and rapid response, but noted that Alliance fighters had to fire expensive guided missiles against relatively cheap disposable drones, which has sparked public criticism of the alliance's readiness.
Gen. Breuer called for the risks to people and potential material damage to be taken into account when deploying weapons. “How can we achieve a better balance between cost and effectiveness? We have taken concrete steps. For example, we are already purchasing the Skyranger air defense systems, the ammunition of which is negligible compared to the price of standard anti-aircraft missiles, said the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr.
„Skyranger“ is a mobile ground-based air defense system developed by the German company „Rheinmetall“.