Germany has decided to stop using Chinese-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in military training activities, opting instead for drones manufactured in Germany or other European countries as part of efforts to strengthen technological sovereignty and reduce dependence on non-European suppliers.

The German Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that commanders within the Bundeswehr will continue to be permitted to procure commercially available drones for training exercises and certain military drills.

According to the ministry, such drones may only be used following an appropriate risk assessment and under conditions that ensure no security-sensitive information is exposed or compromised.

European-made alternatives to replace Chinese drones

The ministry stated that future procurement for training purposes will no longer include Chinese-made UAV models, stressing that the Bundeswehr aims to strengthen its self-sufficiency and technological sovereignty by giving preference to systems produced in Germany or elsewhere in Europe.

The decision forms part of broader efforts to reduce strategic dependence on foreign technologies in areas considered important to national security and defence capabilities.

Ministry declines to disclose current inventory

German news magazine Der Spiegel first reported the decision.

The Defence Ministry did not disclose how many Chinese-manufactured drones are currently in service within the Bundeswehr, nor did it specify a timetable for replacing the existing systems.

Germany, like several other European countries, has in recent years increased scrutiny of Chinese technology used in critical infrastructure and government institutions, citing security and strategic resilience considerations.(ILKHA)