There’s something eerie about those unidentified drones, those silent watchers buzzing over the German military bases.
It’s like a scene straight out of a Cold War spy novel, but it’s happening right now, right over the heads of Allied troops training Ukrainian fighters.
This isn’t some conspiracy theory; it’s the unsettling reality that the Bundeswehr reportedly faces daily.
A Year of Unwanted Visitors
For over a year now, these unidentified flying intruders have been a constant presence.
It’s like playing a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, and the Germans are the mice.
In Germany, unidentified drones have been repeatedly observed flying over Bundeswehr training areas and barracks for over a year, particularly when training Ukrainian military personnel.
Markus Faber, FDP member of the Bundestag and member of the Defense Committee, said: “Drones… pic.twitter.com/QIkk5h3ZWB
There’s something eerie about those unidentified drones, those silent watchers buzzing over the German military bases.
It’s like a scene straight out of a Cold War spy novel, but it’s happening right now, right over the heads of Allied troops training Ukrainian fighters.
This isn’t some conspiracy theory; it’s the unsettling reality that the Bundeswehr reportedly faces daily.
A Year of Unwanted Visitors
For over a year now, these unidentified flying intruders have been a constant presence.
It’s like playing a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, and the Germans are the mice.
In Germany, unidentified drones have been repeatedly observed flying over Bundeswehr training areas and barracks for over a year, particularly when training Ukrainian military personnel.
Markus Faber, FDP member of the Bundestag and member of the Defense Committee, said: “Drones… pic.twitter.com/QIkk5h3ZWB
The military’s response? Cranking up their tech game with anti-drone gadgets.
They even cobbled together a task force last November to tackle this airborne menace.
The German government will purchase two 35-mm Skynex anti-aircraft gun systems from Rheinmetall for delivery to Ukraine early next year
The Skynex air defense system has already been operating in Kyiv since April 2023, but the “drone fighter,” as it is called in Germany, is of… pic.twitter.com/lG7AWN3XSt
But like many military operations, the details are as clear as mud.
Training Grounds: The Eye of the Storm
Places like Klietz, where Ukrainian soldiers get their hands on Leopard 1 tanks, are drone hotspots.
Here, Ukrainians are taught by Germans to not just drive tanks; it’s about giving them a good fighting chance.
And that’s exactly what these drones seem to be interested in – every move, every tactic being taught.
“Drones are regularly spotted over the Klitz military training ground, where the Bundeswehr trains Ukrainians on Leopard 1 tanks,” German lawmaker Marcus Faber told a German newspaper, quoted by EuroPravda. “Sometimes several drones simultaneously enter the airspace of other bases.”
A Suspected Puppet Master
The usual (and obvious) suspect? Russia.
With their fingers in every espionage pie, their advanced drones are perfect for playing the spy game.
The timing’s impeccable, too.
🔥 🇩🇪 🇺🇦 Can destroy swarms of drones. Ukraine received another Skynex system: what is known about it
Another Skynex anti-aircraft defense system was transferred to Ukraine from Germany along with other weapons, which was included in the new aid package announced on January 4.… pic.twitter.com/DchB9kSAmT
Just as Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands start shipping Leopard-1A5 tanks to Ukraine, the skies get busier with these buzzing pests.
The Spy Games and Tank Training
It’s not rocket science to figure out why Russia would want a bird’s-eye view of this.
They’re after intel on Western weapons in Ukraine’s hands.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius kicked off the tank training last April, and ever since, it’s been like putting on a show for unseen eyes in the sky.
The Training Marathon: A Herculean Task
Germany’s not just teaching a few Ukrainian soldiers; we’re talking about over 10,000 troops getting a crash course in everything from urban warfare to handling Patriot missile systems.
This isn’t a small-time operation; it’s a full-blown military academy—courtesy of the Bundeswehr.
EUMAM UA: Europe’s Unified Front
The European Union isn’t just watching from the sidelines.
They’re knee-deep in this, with the European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM UA) setting the stage for an all-hands-on-deck approach to train Ukrainian soldiers.
It’s about giving them the skills to survive and fight back in a war that’s anything but predictable.
The EUMAM UA mission is locked in for the long haul, well into 2024.
The game plan? Keep adapting, keep delivering weapons, and keep the training relevant to the chaos unfolding on the battlefield.
The Ratio of Commitment
The trainer-to-trainee ratio here is telling – about 16 trainers for every 10 Ukrainian soldiers.
That’s not just dedication; that’s a statement. Europe is in this together, come hell or high water.
A Call for Vigilance and Innovation
But with these drones, it’s clear we’re in a new kind of war – one that’s fought not just on land or sea but in the information ether above us.
It’s a game of shadows and whispers, where the unseen is more dangerous than the seen.
The Bundeswehr, and indeed all of Europe, needs to up their game in counter-surveillance and anti-drone warfare if we’re to keep these training grounds safe and keep giving Ukraine a fighting chance it desperately needs.
In this high-stakes game of cloak and dagger, it’s not just about training troops; it’s about protecting the knowledge and skills that could tip the balance in a war that’s redefining modern combat.
The skies above Germany’s training grounds aren’t just filled with drones; they’re thick with the tension of a silent battle being waged – one where knowledge is both the weapon and the prize.
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Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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