New Technology Center for Drone Security opens in Cochstedt
- On 18 August 2026, the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and DLR opened the new Technology Center for Drone Security.
- At DLR's sites in Braunschweig and Cochstedt, technologies for the safe use of drones, as well as for their detection and defence against them, are being researched and tested under realistic conditions.
- The centre brings together research, security authorities and industry, and aims to accelerate the transfer of new technologies into practical application.
- Focus: Aviation, security, drones
Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) – drones – open up a wide range of opportunities for business, science and public authorities. At the same time, the requirements for their safe operation are increasing, as is the need to protect airports, critical infrastructure and public facilities from their misuse. On 18 August 2026, the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern; BMI), the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt; BMFTR) and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) opened the new Technology Center for Drone Security at DLR's site in Cochstedt. The Technology Center is based primarily at the DLR sites in Cochstedt and Braunschweig, bringing together DLR's expertise and research infrastructure, closely linking these to the practical requirements of security authorities and industry. Following the official opening ceremony, DLR and specialist police forces demonstrated the latest technologies and findings in the field of safe and secure drone operations to guests from the worlds of politics, business and research.
"Drones open up enormous opportunities, but they also pose a challenge. This is where the Technology Center for Drone Security at the DLR sites in Cochstedt and Braunschweig is set to play an active role, as a logical continuation of the successful cooperation between the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the federal and state police authorities and the Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt; BKA). We need the technical expertise of research, the innovative strength and implementation skills of industry and, above all, the perspective of those who are responsible for our security in real operational situations," explains Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board. "Through technology transfer and the exchange of knowledge, new approaches from research can be rapidly and effectively translated into practical solutions. After all, we do not develop technology for its own sake – we solve specific problems and meet specific needs. Research must have an impact – particularly where the security of our country is at stake. The Technology Center for Drone Security is being established at two DLR sites, which we have upgraded over the past ten years for this type of use, with funding from the BMFTR and formerly the BMWE (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie; Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy). The state of Saxony-Anhalt is also a strong supporter of the Cochstedt site. Together, we share the vision of a technology hub. The result is unique facilities for testing and validating innovative drone safety and security solutions under realistic conditions."
Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt: "With the Drone Safety and Security Technology Center at the German Aerospace Center, we are researching, developing and testing state-of-the-art counter-drone technology under real-world conditions. Here in Cochstedt, we are researching and testing new technologies directly at an airport – exactly where the threat situation is most sensitive. We are pooling the expertise of the scientific community, start-ups and our security authorities to protect our country even more effectively against hybrid threats."
Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space: "DLR's Cochstedt site is a flagship for drone research. The BMFTR already funds the existing National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Competence Center. With today's opening of the Drone Safety and Security Technology Center, the BMFTR and BMI are working hand in hand. It is a powerful demonstration of how the Federal Ministry of the Interior can build on existing expertise to tackle the threat posed by drones head-on. New applications and technologies are being tested here – for business, for public authorities, and now increasingly for our security as well. We all need to pull together – the Federal Government alongside the states, the scientific community, business, security authorities and public administration – for Germany's future: a future of freedom, security and prosperity."
From research to application
UAS technologies, including for their detection and defence, are developing at a rapid pace. The Drone Safety and Security Technology Center is intended to help evaluate new approaches at an early stage, develop them further and bring them into practical application more quickly. A particularly important aspect is the use of drones in security-related situations and the effective defence against threats posed by drones.
The focus is on research and development geared towards specific operational requirements. The Technology Center evaluates technologies and procedures, further develops and integrates them, and tests them under realistic conditions. In doing so, it works closely with security authorities and companies.
In addition, the Technology Center's activities are integrated into the Joint Counter-Drone Centre (Gemeinsames Zentrum für Drohnenabwehr or GDAZ). The Technology Center thus tailors its research and development work specifically to the actual needs of the security authorities.
Testing and demonstrating under realistic conditions
One focus of the Technology Center is the realistic evaluation of existing and new technologies. Among the topics studied are procedures for the safe operation of drones and technologies for the detection of and defence against unwanted drones. To this end, researchers simulate different scenarios involving current and future drone systems under controlled conditions and evaluate the results.
The DLR sites in Braunschweig and Cochstedt offer complementary research and testing capabilities for this purpose. In this way, DLR tests and demonstrates technologies and procedures in a realistic operational environment to investigate how technical solutions function not only in the laboratory but also in the interplay of complex systems.
Bringing innovations to application readiness more quickly
Another key focus is technology incubation. In this context, DLR works with companies to speed up the development of innovative approaches, closing existing capability gaps in a targeted way. To this end, DLR provides extensive expertise, development environments, simulators and laboratories and test facilities.
The programme is aimed at companies of all sizes – from start-ups to established manufacturers. Together with the Center, they can develop, test and demonstrate technologies. At the same time, the requirements of future users are to be incorporated into the development process as early as possible.
Even outside such incubation projects, public authorities and companies can use the Technology Center's infrastructure for testing and demonstrations. Representatives of public authorities can also get involved, for example, through work placements or as part of training programmes.
With the Technology Center for Drone Security, DLR, together with the BMI and the BMFTR, is creating a platform that brings together research, development, testing and practical requirements. The aim is to hasten the availability of innovative solutions for the safe use of uncrewed systems and for protection against their misuse.
Significant progress in a short time
In 2019, DLR took over Magdeburg-Cochstedt Airport (CSO) to establish a drone test centre there. This was followed in 2021 by the official launch of DLR’s National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In 2022, the official resumption of operations at CSO Airport followed. Since 2021, use of the facility has risen steadily by approximately 20 percent per year. In 2025, for example, this resulted in over 200 days of use, with around half attributable to external customers and cooperating users from research and industry. The Technology Center for Drone Security is now being added and integrated into the activities at DLR sites in Cochstedt and Braunschweig.
Thanks to DLR's existing resources, the Technology Center will be operational from day one, enabling it to begin addressing specific issues and requirements as quickly as possible. At the same time, the Technology Center will be further expanded over the coming years, with additional infrastructure and test environments being created and additional staff recruited. To this end, DLR will invest more than 10 million euros and create up to 40 new jobs.