Woidke and Wegner promote drone test areas in Berlin and Brandenburg at ILA

At the center of the press conference was the proposal to create dedicated areas in the capital region for testing drones and other aircraft. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner brought the former Tegel Airport into play. There would be enough space available to build a so-called DefTech campus.

Tegel and military training areas as test sites

Brandenburg also signaled its willingness to provide land. Minister President Dietmar Woidke pointed to large former military training areas and former military properties in the state. "Wir haben große ehemalige Truppenübungsplätze, wir haben auch ehemalige Militärliegenschaften, die sich für so etwas eignen können," said Woidke on the exhibition grounds.

Both politicians stressed that the search for sites should be carried out jointly. "Aber wir werden das gemeinsam aussuchen, gemeinsam mit Brandenburg, was die Standortfragen angeht," said Wegner. Brandenburg would also bring together owners of suitable plots with interested companies, Woidke announced.

Drones as a security risk

Alongside the economic opportunities, Woidke also warned of the risks of drone technology. He referred to cases in which airports had to be temporarily closed due to drone sightings. "Drohnentechnologie ist eine Bedrohung unseres täglichen Lebens," said the Minister President.

Woidke therefore called for technological answers to be developed to address the increasing proliferation of drones. It was urgently necessary to be able to intercept drones, among other things. Wegner underscored the strategic importance of the ILA for the region and pointed to the growing role of the defense industry in Europe.

Joint site search between the states

The ILA takes place every two years in Berlin. By expanding the DefTech segment, the trade fair is responding to stronger demand for security-relevant technologies. According to both sides, the planned test areas in Berlin and Brandenburg are to be concretized before further editions of the ILA.

Overall, Woidke and Wegner see the ILA as an opportunity to further profile the capital region as a location for aviation, space, and defense technology. The joint site search is to be pushed forward in the coming months.

Both state governments emphasized that the planned test areas could also serve civilian drone research, for example in logistics, rescue services, or disaster protection. The separation between civilian and military use should be taken into account in the planning, it was said.