Bavaria faces hybrid attacks while developing autonomous weapons

Bavaria and Germany are both potential targets of hybrid attacks and centres for autonomous weapons development, experts told BR. They said threats such as cyberattacks, infrastructure disruption and drone attacks could become more common.

A drone carrying explosives was detected near a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig Airport on the evening of August 4. Verena Jackson, a drone expert and lawyer who researches at the Bundeswehr University in Munich, said an incident like this was only a matter of time.

Jackson said missile strikes on Germany were unlikely in the near future, but warned of attacks that could disrupt everyday life by taking websites and critical infrastructure offline. She cited possible failures affecting air travel, electricity supplies or cash machines.

She also argued that Germany’s constitutional and legal framework was outdated when dealing with drone and cyberattacks, whether they came from Russia, terrorists or other states. In her view, new rules were needed, including provisions allowing the Bundeswehr to provide assistance more quickly inside Germany.

UN debates rules for autonomous weapons

Tech critic Aya Jaff said politicians were responding too slowly to new hybrid threats. After attending a United Nations meeting in Geneva on autonomous weapons, she criticised the diplomatic discussions as out of date.

Jaff said autonomous weapons were already selecting and eliminating targets in conflicts in Sudan and Gaza. She supports banning such weapons but said the UN was currently focused on establishing rules for their use. She said it was essential to define what international law permits.

Munich startups draw criticism

Jaff also criticised the role of Germany and Bavaria, pointing to Munich startups working on autonomous weapons with government support. According to her, companies are developing artificial intelligence controlled drones that can independently identify and attack targets, as well as autonomous tanks and fighter aircraft.

She said new data centres could also help make this form of warfare possible. Jackson defended the companies, arguing that the technology being developed in Bavaria was not inherently risky and was needed to counter potential adversaries. Since other countries were also working on autonomous weapons, she said Europe needed technological innovation to respond appropriately.