Unveiling a draft law, Dobrindt said police would be able to use jamming devices or take "physical measures, that is to say, intercepting and shooting down drones".

Germany was learning about modern drone defences from its allies Israel and Ukraine, he added.

He said that the federal police would also receive "an additional unit for development and research into drone defence".

Germany, a major NATO backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, has reported multiple drone sightings this year over military bases, industrial sites and other critical infrastructure.

Last weekend drones spotted over the southern city of Munich twice shuttered the city's airport, grounding thousands of passengers after their flights were cancelled or re-routed.

"Our suspicion is that Russia is behind most of these drone flights," Chancellor Friedrich Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview.