Wunstorf drone probe finds suspected explosives

A farmer alerted police after finding a broken drone in overgrown land about a kilometer from the Wunstorf military airfield in Lower Saxony, Tagesschau reported. The discovery was made about a week before the investigation was reported. The case has since moved to Germany’s federal prosecutor and the Federal Criminal Police Office, known as the BKA.

What investigators found

Police searching the area found suspicious material a few meters from the drone. The criminal-technical examination was still incomplete, so authorities had not confirmed what the substance was. Investigators believe the drone may have been fitted with explosives.

An analysis of the aircraft also suggested that it may have crashed near the military site as long as two years earlier. The drone had broken into several pieces. At least one component appears to have been made with a 3D printer, according to Tagesschau and t-online.

The federal prosecutor is examining a possible link to an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August. The Wunstorf drone appears to have a similar design to the aircraft used in that case. The German government blamed Russia for the Leipzig attempt, while Moscow rejected the accusation.

Why Wunstorf is a military target

Wunstorf is home to the Bundeswehr’s fleet of Airbus A400M transport aircraft. The planes move troops and equipment around the world. The base is also a hub for the Bundeswehr’s global logistical operations.

The discovery was discussed at the weekly intelligence briefing in the German Chancellery, where the heads of the security agencies meet. The federal prosecutor’s office declined to comment on the investigation, citing ongoing proceedings.

The Bundeswehr’s Virtus order

The investigation comes as the Bundeswehr prepares to receive Virtus loitering munitions from Berlin-based Stark Defence. These armed uncrewed aircraft, also called kamikaze drones, can remain airborne for up to 75 minutes and travel up to 130 kilometers, according to n-tv. They weigh as much as 33 kilograms.

Stark executive Josef Kranawetvogl said the company planned to begin deliveries soon. The first batch is intended for the German brigade stationed in Lithuania. The systems are scheduled to be used in a NATO exercise there in November. The drones will carry no explosives during exercises and can land again with their propellers.

For Bundeswehr units, the two developments involve different questions: investigators are still determining whether the Wunstorf drone carried an explosive, while the military is preparing to deploy a separate armed drone system. Stark said Virtus is already used in Ukraine, and the Bundeswehr order is part of a broader push to add loitering munitions to its forces.