A new challenge
In 2025, Germany’s DFS recorded 225 drone-related disruptions -up 40% from 161 the year before. Munich Airport was shut down overnight in October after coordinated drone sightings. Copenhagen Airport closed for four hours in September, stranding tens of thousands of passengers. Airports are high-value targets due to their strategic location, concentration of passengers, and media visibility - even a single drone incursion can cost millions.
Airport drone threats are now bringing new and complex challenges in maintaining secure skies. Cheap, commercially available, and increasingly autonomous, drones can penetrate restricted airspace with little warning — operated from a safe distance and nearly impossible to intercept without a dedicated detection system in place.
The consequences range from operational disruption to deliberate attack
- Drones can fly near runways, delaying or cancelling flights and triggering costly emergency shutdowns
- Mid-air collisions with aircraft causing catastrophic damage, especially during takeoff and landing
- Espionage and surveillance of secure airport facilities, VIP areas, and cargo operations
- Strategic delivery vector for hostile actors carrying contraband, weapons, or Explosives
The Compliance Clock Is Running
Beyond the operational risk, there is a growing regulatory dimension worth considering. The KRITIS-Dachgesetz (KRITIS Umbrella Act), passed by the Bundestag on 29 January 2026 and in force since March, names the Transport sector, including aviation infrastructure , among the critical sectors covered. Operators classified as critical under the Act are expected to implement resilience measures by 17 July 2026, following an All-Gefahren-Ansatz (all-hazards approach) that addresses sabotage, terrorism, and deliberate human action, the same threat categories under which malicious drone activity falls. The Act also requires periodic risk analyses, incident reporting, and adherence to the current Stand der Technik (state of the art) for protective measures.
While neither EU nor German aviation law prescribes a specific counter-drone technology, the broader regulatory direction increasingly points toward systematic threat assessment and demonstrable resilience. Given the documented frequency of drone incursions at European airports, drone detection is becoming a natural element of a credible security concept, and one whose absence may carry reputational and insurance implications alongside any regulatory exposure.
The question is whether to act before or after something goes wrong.
Telespazio Germany Drone Detection Solutions: What sets DIDIT apart in an airport context
Telespazio Germany's DIDIT (Distributed Detection, Identification and Tracking) directly closes that gap. At its core is the Operations Console (DOC) a web-based command interface enabling security management from anywhere. Our RF technology is passive, weather-resistant, and simple to install. It can be customised to each facility’s requirements, making it ideally suited for correctional environments.
What sets DIDIT apart in an airport context:
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Navigation-safe: passive RF detection with zero interference to ILS, VOR, or airport systems
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Helps identify why and how long drones fly within the Airport perimeter (tracks the full flight path)
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24/7 tracking even during harsh weather or bad lighting conditions
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Delaying upfront investment for the entire product until Assessment results demonstrate value
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Classify and identify the drone including the Pilot location
Ready to Protect Your Infrastructure?
The threat is real. and it is already happening at airports across Germany and Europe. DIDIT has demonstrated detections in real-world critical infrastructure deployments. Start with a 90-day assessment: no upfront system commitment, mobile sensors installed in hours, zero disruption to airport operations. Book your 90-day DIDIT assessment today and discover how quickly your organisation can achieve full drone incident lifecycle protection.