Private security personnel detected drones over the base in Mechernich from the evening of 6/8 to the morning of 7/8, promptly reporting them to the police. Law enforcement, upon arriving at the scene, also observed a large drone circling the location briefly.

The Mechernich base is a key logistics hub, storing military equipment and various spare parts for the German armed forces. It is also responsible for the maintenance and repair of Patriot air defense systems.

The German Army Operations Command later confirmed the incident but provided no further details. The origin and operators of these drones remain unknown.

German Patriot missile launcher deployed in Slovakia in 2022. *Photo: German Ministry of Defense*

German officials believe the unidentified drones could be Fly-380 models, which feature vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, a wingspan of 3,8 m, a maximum speed of 150 km/h, and an operating range of about 400 km.

The incident has raised significant concerns among German security agencies, prompting an investigation into suspected military espionage. According to Suddeutsche Zeitung, authorities have ruled out the possibility that the drones were used for routine tasks, such as topographic surveys, and inadvertently flew over the base.

This is not the first time unidentified drones have flown over German military bases. Many such devices have previously appeared near naval ports and training bases for Ukrainian soldiers. Experts suggest these activities may aim to gather information on defense infrastructure, equipment deployment locations, or the operations of specific units.

A more serious scenario is that these flights could be preparing for sabotage operations. However, there is no evidence yet to suggest these drones pose a direct threat to military facilities.

Close-up of an unidentified drone found near a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport, Germany, on 5/8. *Photo: SPRAVDI*

The incident occurred days after an unidentified drone containing explosives crashed near a Ukrainian An-124 transport aircraft at Germany's Leipzig/Halle Airport.

German media cited a confidential police report stating that the explosives attached to the drone were military-grade with high explosive power, not ordinary homemade explosives. Investigators suspect the drone was specially modified to bypass security surveillance systems.

Huyen Le (According to UA News, TASS, Suddeutsche Zeitung)