Rheinmetall and Telekom cooperate on civilian drone defense

Rheinmetall and Deutsche Telekom plan to jointly develop a defense shield against drones and sabotage in order to better protect cities and critical infrastructure in Germany. The cooperation was announced ahead of the AFCEA security trade fair in Bonn. The partnership focuses on a so-called “multi-threat protection” approach that combines technologies for cyber security and physical protection. The goal is to detect and repel a wide range of threats to critical infrastructures (KRITIS) such as energy facilities, industrial sites, or public institutions at an early stage. The partnership responds to the increasing hybrid threats posed by sabotage and unmanned aerial vehicles. Due to the current geopolitical situation, the protection of critical infrastructures is increasingly coming into focus, the companies stated. Rheinmetall is contributing its expertise in sensor technology, effectors, and security technologies, while Telekom is providing its competencies in mobile networks, cloud infrastructure, and data analysis. According to reports, passive RF sensors, jamming technologies, and digital analysis methods are among the technologies to be used to identify drones early on. “The threat from drones is highly digital,” said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, according to media reports. “That is why their defense requires the combination of sensor technology, effectors, and secure communication networks.” The companies plan to announce details on the technical implementation and further expansion of the cooperation at a later date. The cooperation was presented in the context of the AFCEA trade fair for security technology, which began in Bonn on May 12, 2026