Drones flew six times over Germany's Mechernich base storing US Patriot equipment

Unidentified drones flew six times overnight over Germany's Mechernich military base near Bonn, which houses equipment for US-made Patriot air defense systems, prompting a security investigation. Security staff and police observed the overflights between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. A suspected Fly-380 VTOL drone—with a 3.8-meter wingspan, 400-kilometer range, and 10-kilogram payload—was seen. The underground facility, 130 meters deep, maintains Patriot systems. Police investigate suspected illegal photography of military installations. Similar drone sightings over German bases have occurred repeatedly in recent years, following this week's discovery of an explosives-carrying drone near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig airport.