Bundeswehr practices with high-tech drones: major maneuvers started near Hameln!

Bundeswehr practices with high-tech drones: major maneuvers started near Hameln!

The residents in Hameln/Großenwieden were treated to an impressive sight when a column of military vehicles moved through the streets. The column comprised ten vehicles, including three Fuchs wheeled armored vehicles, which will be used today, June 30, 2025, for the Bundeswehr's upcoming major maneuver. The reconnaissance team, which had its starting point in Paderborn-Sennelager, travels at a speed of 60 km/h and ensures that traffic is blocked off at the access to the Weser. Soldiers secure the area with machine guns to ensure safety during these exercises, such as [dewezet.de].

Particular attention is paid to the use of the “Sonobot 5”, an innovative surface drone designed for survey and search operations. It can detect objects hidden under water, such as scrap metal and mines, and is primarily used for hydrographic surveys in inland waters. This technology is proving to be extremely valuable for the Bundeswehr in order to explore water crossings digitally and quickly. The example of the planned exercises in Ohr (Emmerthal) and Rumbeck (Hessisch Oldendorf) shows how the military uses current technologies.

Multinational military exercise “Grand Crossing”

Parallel to the activities in Hameln, another important exercise is taking place on the Lower Rhine. With 1,200 soldiers from four nations, the “Grand Crossing” military maneuver is a remarkable event in Germany. The focus here is on the water crossings of the Rhine, which are ultimately intended to ensure the strategic mobility of the troops. This multinational exercise will be carried out comprehensively and will also involve troops and vehicles being deployed on traffic-conscious routes to ensure smooth operations, as wa.de notes.

The exercise, which began on June 26, 2025, is led by a German-British Engineer Bridge Battalion 130 from Minden, with the Dutch and Italian companies providing support. Onlookers have the opportunity to watch the action from the Reeser Rhine side. We strongly urge you to keep your distance from combat vehicles in order to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

International military presence in times of tension

Amid these practical exercises, the international situation must also be considered. NATO maneuvers, such as the ongoing Baltops exercises in the Baltic Sea, reflect the current tense geopolitical conditions. 50 ships, 25 aircraft and 9,000 soldiers from 17 nations are involved here, with a Russian observation ship observing the NATO exercises from a safe distance. This pressure shows how important it is to maintain the military presence, as questions of national security are also raised, as [zdfheute.de](https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/ostsee-nato-manoever-baltops-fregatte-bayern- defense-100.html) reports.

In summary, the Bundeswehr and its international partners are conducting important exercises in various theaters that contribute both to the security of the region and to strengthening global military cooperation. In a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, such maneuvers are crucial.