Suspicious Drone Spies on British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in Germany.

According to information published by Bild on November 22, 2024, a serious security incident occurred at the Port of Hamburg, where the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently docked under heavy protection. The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) has established a strict military security zone around the vessel, with Heimatschützer (homeland security forces) and the elite Seebataillon (Sea Battalion) providing 24/7 protection.
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Royal Navy's Queen-Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. (Picture source: German Armed Forces)

At approximately 4:25 a.m., the German water police reported a suspicious sighting of a 1.5m x 1.5m reconnaissance drone hovering over the 284-meter-long aircraft carrier. A Bundeswehr internal report, shared with the Territorial Operations Center, confirmed the incident and identified the drone as likely engaged in espionage activities targeting the NATO warship.

The Bundeswehr’s counter-drone unit immediately deployed HP-47 jamming equipment, capable of emitting signals to disrupt and neutralize drones by forcing them to either land or return to their operators. However, the attempt to intercept the drone was unsuccessful. The incident highlights a legal challenge in Germany: the Bundeswehr is only authorized to track drones within the military security zone. Once the drone left this designated area, jurisdiction shifted to the local police.

The water police followed the drone as it moved from the vicinity of the HMS Queen Elizabeth towards Hamburg’s Fischmarkt, flew over the Norderelbe River, and ultimately disappeared near the Tollerort container terminal. Despite extensive searches by law enforcement, neither the drone nor its operator was located.

This disappearance has sparked speculation, particularly given that a Chinese state-owned company became a co-owner of the Tollerort terminal one year ago. While no direct link has been established, the coincidence raises questions about potential foreign involvement.

Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, the Bundeswehr has faced an alarming increase in unauthorized drone activity near military installations. Intelligence experts have frequently warned of espionage activities conducted by foreign powers, particularly Russia, which remains a primary suspect in many cases.

The latest incident underscores the vulnerabilities of even the most secure sites to modern surveillance technology, reigniting calls for more robust counter-drone measures and expanded legal authority for security forces. The presence of the HMS Queen Elizabeth in Hamburg, a symbol of NATO's maritime strength, may have made it a prime target for adversaries seeking sensitive information.

The failure of the HP-47 jammer to neutralize the suspicious drone over HMS Queen Elizabeth highlights both the limitations of the system and the evolving sophistication of modern drones. The HP-47 is a portable, directional jamming device designed to disrupt a drone’s GPS or operator communication signals. While its lightweight design and ease of use make it suitable for tactical scenarios, its effectiveness is constrained by a relatively short range of 500–1,000 meters and a reliance on line-of-sight targeting. These limitations become apparent in complex urban environments like Hamburg’s port, where buildings and other obstacles can obstruct the jammer's operation.

The suspected espionage drone likely employed advanced countermeasures that reduced the HP-47’s effectiveness. Techniques such as frequency-hopping, encrypted communications, or autonomous navigation allow drones to operate independently of traditional GPS or remote-control signals, bypassing the capabilities of standard jamming equipment.