German military to stop using Chinese-made drones, citing data security, ministry says

Germany's defence ministry said on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, that the Bundeswehr will no longer use Chinese-made drones, including for target and training purposes.

"To strengthen the Bundeswehr's self-sufficiency and technological sovereignty, Chinese-made models will no longer be used for target or training purposes," the ministry said in a statement quoted by The Local. The ministry also cited data and IT security.

Existing systems will be replaced by "products from domestic or, where applicable, European sources", the statement said. The Hindu's account refers only to European products.

The ministry said the military had used "inexpensive, off-the-shelf drones for training purposes", bought "with minimal bureaucratic effort". Der Spiegel reported the decision before the ministry's statement.

The ministry also said sensors in modern vehicles are seen as potential security risks. Access for certain vehicles to sensitive or high-security military sites can be restricted. According to The Local, the ministry did not specify whether Chinese models are on the list of barred vehicles.

What is reported

According to The Hindu, a ministry spokesperson said there is no blanket ban on systems or vehicles from specific countries. The spokesperson said the decision rests on individual risk assessments.

According to Der Spiegel, local commanders could buy the drones under a 2024 strategy. It included a "white list" of approved systems, several of them made by China-based DJI. Der Spiegel reported concerns that the drones could send data on exercises, training grounds or weapons systems to Chinese intelligence services.

Infobae reported that the ministry declined to say how many Chinese drones it has bought since 2024. Infobae cited Der Spiegel as reporting that experts estimate there are several thousand.

Der Spiegel also reported that vehicles from Chinese companies such as BYD, Geely and NIO have been restricted from barracks. Infobae notes the ministry did not confirm this in its statement.

What each side says

• German defence ministry: the decision protects data and IT security and strengthens technological sovereignty.
• China's foreign ministry told Reuters it opposes Germany's "discriminatory practice" targeting Chinese products, according to The Hindu.
• DJI has repeatedly said its drones pose no security risk, according to The Hindu. In May, it told US lawmakers an independent review found "no evidence of data transmission outside the United States". The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a DJI response to the German decision.
• Florian Taitsch, a spokesman for Munich-based ARX Robotics, told AFP the decision was an "appropriate response", The Local reported.

What is not known

The reports do not describe any evidence that Bundeswehr drones sent data to China. They do not include a replacement timeline or name the replacement products.

Analysis

The decision places Germany alongside other governments that have restricted Chinese-made technology at military sites, according to reports reviewed by Vocemundi. The ministry frames it as risk management, not a ban by country. China's foreign ministry calls it discriminatory. Several questions remain open. How quickly can domestic or European suppliers replace low-cost drones? What will that cost? Will vehicle restrictions be formally confirmed? Diplomatic friction with Beijing is possible. Wider restrictions on other technologies are also possible. Neither outcome is indicated in the ministry's statement. Without published risk assessments, outside observers cannot judge how the security concerns were weighed.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.