Bavarian authorities have reported sightings of drones of unknown origin flying over a military airfield in southern Germany, raising concerns about potential espionage linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Bavaria State Criminal Police Office (LKA) confirmed that police were alerted to drone activity above the Manching Air Base near Ingolstadt on Sunday evening. Officers detected as many as 10 drones during the incident.
Despite deploying a police helicopter for reinforcement, those responsible for the illegal flights remain unidentified. This follows a series of similar incidents recorded in December over military security areas in Manching and the nearby Neuburg an der Donau.
Authorities suspect the drones were being used to capture images of military installations. The Munich Public Prosecutor General’s Office, which handles cases related to terrorism and extremism, has taken over the investigation.
Manching Air Base houses Germany’s Technical and Airworthiness Centre for Aircraft, which tests aircraft for the nation’s air force. Neuburg is the base of the German Air Force’s 74th Tactical Wing, tasked with monitoring southern German airspace using Eurofighter Typhoons.
Authorities are appealing to witnesses for information to help identify those
