With the first drone innovation conference in Stuttgart, Thomas Strobl has sent a signal in terms of security policy that goes far beyond a mere technology initiative.
Baden-Württemberg wants to develop a police drone that is not only technically capable, but above all guarantees digital sovereignty and is industrially anchored in Germany. The ambition is clearly formulated: away from non-European dependencies, towards an independent, controllable, and sustainable security solution.
The conference brought together stakeholders from industry, science, the federal police, the German Armed Forces, ministries, authorities, and the Baden-Württemberg police. The aim was to define the technological, tactical, and strategic requirements for a modern police drone and, at the same time, to create a network that can quickly translate innovations into operational practice.
The focus was on the question of how a drone must be designed in order to meet the real operational requirements of the police and at the same time fulfill the highest standards of data security and system control.
A changed security policy situation
Drones are no longer just civilian leisure devices or tools for photography and filming.
In recent years, they have become a security-relevant factor. Their technological evolution is rapid: improved battery technologies extend flight times, autonomous navigation systems increase precision, and artificial intelligence increasingly enables automated analysis processes. At the same time, the potential threat posed by misuse is growing.
Baden-Württemberg recognized this development early on and is investing specifically in its Drone Competence and Defense Center (D-KAZ BW). The innovation conference is an expression of the strategic further development of this approach. It combines operational needs analysis with an industrial policy perspective and formulates a clear target vision: a police drone that is developed, manufactured, and operated in Germany.
Digital sovereignty as a guiding principle
At the heart of the initiative is the concept of digital sovereignty. This refers not only to control over hardware components, but in particular to complete control over all data flows. For security authorities, it is essential that collected image and sensor data can be traced, controlled, and processed in a legally compliant manner at all times. The data is to be stored in a security infrastructure designed specifically for police applications that meets the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality.
This involves much more than technical details. Dependence on manufacturers outside Europe, especially from China, has repeatedly triggered security policy discussions in recent years.
Proprietary cloud structures, opaque data paths, and a lack of influence over software updates are factors that are critically evaluated in the official context. The planned police drone is intended to overcome these structural dependencies and enable a sovereign, state-controllable system architecture.
Technical performance in everyday operations
In addition to the strategic dimension, the focus is on concrete practical application. A police drone must be able to cover a wide variety of situations. In traffic accidents, it can be used for precise measurement by taking high-resolution images from the air, thus speeding up documentation.
During search operations, it enables wireless real-time transmission to the operations control center and supports tactical coordination on the ground. It can also provide valuable situational awareness in large-scale operations, missing person searches, or hazardous operations.
High technical standards are required to make these scenarios realistically feasible.
The camera technology must deliver image quality that enables meaningful results even in difficult lighting conditions. In the future, thermal imaging and multispectral sensors will also play a role. The endurance of the system is equally crucial. Long battery life and short charging cycles are prerequisites for drones to be used not only selectively, but also in longer-term operations.
In addition, they must be fully operational in a variety of weather conditions. Police work knows no business hours. Accordingly, the technology used must also be available around the clock and function reliably in rain, wind, or cold. Robustness, system stability, and secure data transmission are therefore not optional features, but fundamental requirements.
Innovation ecosystem instead of isolated solutions
Baden-Württemberg offers favorable conditions for this project. The state is considered one of the strongest research and industrial locations in Germany. The close integration of medium-sized companies, high-tech businesses, and scientific institutions creates an environment in which practice-oriented developments are possible.
The innovation conference showed that there is a great willingness to cooperate.
Companies are given the opportunity to find out at an early stage what requirements security authorities actually have. Research institutions can contribute their expertise in areas such as autonomy, sensor technology, and AI-supported image evaluation. At the same time, the police and the German Armed Forces benefit from direct access to technological developments. This constellation not only promotes the technical quality of the end product, but also strengthens industrial value creation in the state.
Perspectives: Autonomy and AI
The momentum of drone technology will remain high in the future. Autonomous flight modes, intelligent obstacle detection, and AI-based evaluation systems will further increase performance. The ability to automatically identify objects or people could significantly reduce the workload for emergency services and shorten response times.
At the same time, such technologies raise new legal and ethical questions that must be carefully weighed in the regulatory context.
This is precisely why it is strategically important to build up in-house system expertise. Those who develop core technological components themselves, or at least play a key role in their design, can define standards and better integrate regulatory requirements.
The planned police drone is therefore not just a tool, but a building block of long-term security architecture.
Conclusion
With the Drone Innovation Conference, Baden-Württemberg is marking a turning point in its security policy orientation. The development of a police drone “made in Germany” combines operational requirements with industrial policy strategy and digital self-determination.
If the project is successfully implemented, it will not only create a powerful tool for everyday police work, but also a model for sovereign security technology in Europe. The initiative shows that technological innovation and state security interests do not have to be contradictory, but can – when properly networked – reinforce each other.
