Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation

Support the Guardian

Fund independent journalism with 50% off
Claim discount
Ramstein air base in Germany in 2021. Photograph: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Unidentified drones spotted over US air base in Germany, report says

This article is more than 11 months old

German security authorities reportedly flag numerous sightings over Ramstein and sensitive industry locations

Unidentified drones have been sighted over sensitive industry locations at the US air base at Ramstein in Germany in recent weeks, the Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday, citing a confidential report by German security authorities.

The report flagged numerous drone sightings made in the evening hours of 3 and 4 December over the air base, according to Spiegel.

A security source told Reuters the report on drone sightings over Ramstein was correct. The German defence ministry declined to comment on the report.

German intelligence chiefs have warned that the country’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia makes it a target of possible sabotage attempts, with recent security incidents at military barracks raising alarm further.

Spiegel also reported unexplained drone sightings over locations belonging to the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and the chemicals group BASF.

“The safety of BASF sites is our top priority,” a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “We therefore keep an eye on suspicious activities at all times and work closely with the relevant security authorities.”

Rheinmetall did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Related stories

  • From UFOs to drones, the US fascination with – and fear of – ‘anomalous detections’

  • Mayorkas says no known foreign involvement in mass drone sightings

  • Clusters of unidentified drones spotted in New York and New Jersey

  • Unidentified drones spotted over three UK airbases, US air force confirms

  • US joins Germany in sending tanks to Ukraine as Biden hails ‘united’ effort

  • US to pull 12,000 troops out of Germany as Trump blasts 'delinquent' Berlin

  • Germany rejects Trump claim it owes Nato and US 'vast sums' for defence

  • Germany believes Trump presidency would batter US economy, report says

More from News

  • Ukraine
    US-Russia talks may pile pressure on Kyiv to make concessions, says EU foreign policy chief

  • West Bank
    Israeli settlers attack and rob Italian and Canadian volunteers in West Bank

  • Obesity
    Shortage of ‘breakthrough’ weight loss drugs will slow fight against obesity, WHO warns

  • World
    Sri Lanka and Indonesia deploy militaries as Asia floods death toll passes 1,100

  • Spain
    Suspected members of neo-Nazi terror group arrested in Spain

  • Pharmaceuticals industry
    NHS to pay 25% more for innovative drugs after UK–US zero-tariff deal

  • Venezuela
    Trump reportedly gave Maduro ultimatum to relinquish power in Venezuela

  • Film
    Scarlett Johansson says she was pressed to remove Holocaust narrative from directing debut

  • Italy
    Frozen-in tenor: Italian mayor apologises over Pavarotti statue stuck in ice rink